World Soccer November 2015

GLOBAL FOOTBALL SINCE i960

November 2015

The forwards blazing^

O WESLEY SNEIJDER
O LUKAS PODOLSKI

RISE OF THE
UNDERDOG

Albania and the Euro
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^ November 2015

Contents

THE WORLD THIS MONTH
People in the news...on and off the pitch
4 In pictures

10 FIFA election the seven candidates
14 From the Editor
20 Ins & outs people on the move
22 Paul Gardner Eurosnobs and MLS
24 Jim Holden France 2016 expansion
26 Brian Glanville Mourinho under pressure

SIX OF THE BEST
44 In-form strikers

FACE TO FACE
50 Ivan Rakitic
56 Cristiano Ronaldo
58 Wesley Sneijder
60 Lukas Podolski

ARCHIVES
62 November 1967

EURO 2016 COUNTDOWN

68 Austria

69 Portugal

70 Northern Ireland

71 Switzerland

THE GREAT MATCHES
98 Spain v Yugoslavia, 2000

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75 ti^^MSstuttering start on road to Russia
^76^5E0OT£/ Tr/’ claim local bragging rights
■78l E?^ tional coach Klinsmann underfire
. 80 newcomers make their mark

82 ^^i^^Euro exit exposes wider problem
84 TJm^^^federation banned by FIFA

72 Euro 2016 play-offs preview 74 Global diary 86 Results, tables, fixtures 94 Squads

WORLD SOCCER 3

THE WORLD THIS MONTH

In Pictures

The global game caught on camera

4 WORLD SOCCER

BOSNIA...Wales manager Chris Coleman
is thrown around by his players after
they secure a place at Euro 2016
despite losing to Bosnia-Herzegovina

l&vi

rt^ ^^Mnn

Sjjjf

K-.«# ^

WORLD SOCCER 5

6 WORLD SOCCER

To see more of the best photos from the month, scan the QR code using any free QR reader that can
be downloaded to your smartphone. You can also see the images by logging on to http://po.st/ToYonS

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THIS MONTH

possible

election

Seven contenders to replace Blatter f

T he nominations have closed in
the FIFA presidential vote, which
is scheduled to take place on
February 26, 2016. The seven
candidates face a difficult task in
persuading FIFA's 209 members that
they can reform the organisation.

Keir Radnedge profiles the men in
contention for FIFA's top job

JEROME

CHAMPAGNE

I ■ French Age: 57 Years in game: 17
Current position: Consultant, including
roles with the Palestine FA and the
Kosovar Football Federation

■ Worked at FIFA for 11 years in senior
roles including deputy general secretary
before being forced out in January 2011.
Tried to run last May but failed to obtain
the necessary nominations.

"At a time when football is suffering
along with our planet and society from
the increasing level of inequalities,
we have to assert the need to better
control the globalisation of our sport.
We must continue the efforts to
improve the spectacle of elite football
and, at the same time, reduce the
inequalities for the benefit of everyone"

10 WORLD SOCCER

Building bridges..can
FIFA dig itself out of a
hole of its own making?

GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

GIANNI INFANTINO

n Swiss Age: 45 Years in game: 15
Status: UEFA general secretary (since
2009)

■ Joined UEFA in 2000 as a lawyer
and secretary general of the International
Centre for Sports Studies at the University
of Neuchatel. Is one of UEFA's two
delegates on the FIFA reform committee
chaired by Francois Carrard.

"My manifesto will be based on the
need for reform and also for a FIFA
that genuinely serves the interests of all
209 national associations, big or small,
and that puts football and football
development at the top of its agenda"

MICHEL PLATINI

1 1 French Age: 60 Years in game: 43
Status: President of UEFA and vice-president of FIFA but
currently under a 90-day provisional suspension from football
by the FIFA ethics committee, pending the outcome of an
investigation into his acceptance in 2011 of a "disloyal payment"
from FIFA on Blotter's authority. Cannot campaign but may be
allowed into the race if he clears his name before the election.

■ Enjoyed a stellar career as both player and then administrator.
Starred for Nancy, Saint-Etienne and Juventus, and captained
France to victory in Euro 84. Coached France between 1988 and
1992. From 1992 to 1998, he was co-president of the FIFA
World Cup Organising Committee and vice-president of the
French Football Federation from 2000. Worked as Blatter's
"football counsellor" at FIFA from 1999 to 2002. Ousted
Lennart Johansson to become UEFA president in 2007.

"/ am the only candidate with such a broad view of the game.

I would push key dossiers such as the regulation of transfers
and the problem of TPO.Just as in UEFA, I would ensure
greater democratic participation among the organisation's
leadership. In the FIFA executive committee I would welcome
representatives of the players and the clubs. I welcome reform
proposals to clarify the role of the executive committee and to
separate politics from the operational area"

■ Bahraini Age: 49 Years in game: 17
Current position: Asian Football
Confederation president and FIFA
vice-president.

SHEIKH SALMAN
BIN EBRAHIM AL
KHALIFA

■ Former head of the Bahrain FA and
member of the ruling royal family. Led the
committee which recommended switching
the 2022 World Cup to the winter. Has
consistently denied allegations linking him
to the torture of national-team players
involved in protests in 2011. Supported
by Olympic powerbroker Sheikh Ahmad
Al Fahad Al Sabah, a new fellow member
of the FIFAExCo.

Tm not looking to be an executive
president. I think we have to bring the
right people in, we have to bring the
professionals to do the job. With the
support I'm going to get we're going
to turn it around very quickly. We have
big examples of football organisations
around the world - the Premier League,
the Bundesliga, even UEFA who have a
football side and a revenue side. This is
what we want to bring to FIFA"

WORLD SOCCER 11

THE WORLD THIS MONTH

MUSA BILITY

™ LiberidPi Age: 48 Years in game:

Five Status: Businessman and president
of the Liberian FA

■ A somewhat surprise contender,
and one who was disappointed to be
denied the endorsement of the African
confederation's executive committee.

Was banned by CAF for six months in
2013 for the improper handling of
confidential documents.

If we are to change football we have
to make sure that those who have been
running FIFA for the last 20-25 years
have nothing to do with it. Africa is the
largest voting bloc in FIFA and we must
take the lead to bring football together"

Before the vote on February 26, candidates
must pass "integrity checks”. If a candidate
receives two-thirds of the 209 votes in the
first ballot they will be declared the winner.

If there is no two-thirds majority, the
candidate with the lowest vote is eliminated
and another vote held until one candidate
has a majority of more than 50 per cent.

PRINCE All BIN AL HUSSEIN

C Jordanian Age: 39 Years in game: 16

Status: President of Jordan Football Association and head of the

Asian Football Development Project

■ Ousted South Korea's Chung Mong-joon as Asia's FIFA vice-
president in 2011 with the support of Sepp Blatter, who he then
antagonised when emerging as a reformist within the FIFA ExCo.
Ousted last year by Sheikh Salman. Stood against Blatter in May,
garnering 73 votes and denying him a first-round knockout
victory before withdrawing.

"Last May I was the only person who dared to challenge Mr
Blatter for the presidency. I ran because I believe that FIFA
needs change - and I had the courage to fight for change
when others were afraid. Football is hope. It is unity - and
it is a powerful tool to make the world a better place. I do
not believe that FIFA can give this sport back to the people
of the world, without new leadership, untainted by the
practices of the past"

TOKYO SEXWALE

S South African Age: 62 Years in
game: Seven Status: Businessman
(mining millionaire)

■ For the past two years a consultant to
FIFA's anti-discrimination taskforce, and
chairman of the Palestine-lsrael
monitoring commission since June. An
anti-apartheid campaigner - who spent
13 years on Robben Island with Nelson
Mandela - and former government
minister. Was a member of the bid team
and the organising committee for the
2010 World Cup.

"FIFA, the organisation of the beautiful
game, is damaged. The brand is severely
undermined. I am going into this
campaign as a candidate of my country
with the confidence bestowed in me to
make sure that we win. But win or lose
people will know there was an African
who was here who shook things up"

THE FAILURES

Missing out...(from ieft to right) David Nakhid, Chung Mong-joon, David Ginoia, Ramon Vega and Zico

David Nakhid: Former Trinidad
& Tobago international who
submitted his five nominations
but was then excluded by the
electoral committee because
the United States Virgin Islands
had also nominated another
contender.

Chung Mong-joon: South
Korean billionaire who spent 17
years as a FIFA vice-president
until 2011. His potential
candidacy was halted after he
was banned from football for
six years by the FIFA ethics
committee after events

concerning the 2018-2022
World Cup bid process.

David Ginoia (France), Ramon
Vega (Switzerland) and Zico
(Brazil) expressed an interest in
standing but failed to obtain
the necessary nominations.

12 WORLD SOCCER

GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

Keir

RADNEDGE

THE INSIDER

Blatter-Platini rift grows
amid the rancour

Any thought that the provisional suspensions
of Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini, plus the
deadline for presidential nominations, would
calm troubled waters at FIFA proved mistaken.
If anything, the seas grew ever more turbulent
with both Blatter and Platini going public with
self-justifying, self-delusional interviews.

The simple reaction was to say, with
Mercutio in Shakespeare's Romeo andJuliet "A
plague o’ both your houses!' But in this case
the house - "the mother house" as Platini likes
to call FIFA - is here to stay and the challenge
is both how and through whom solutions can
be found.

Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah has
commented that reform is more important
than the identity of the next president, but this
was being disingenuous. The two clearly go
hand-in-hand. This also assumes there will
be anybody left.

Blatter and Platini were suspended
provisionally for 90 days by the ethics
committee over allegations of financial
misconduct. In Blotter's case this involved the
issues which have already submitted him to
criminal investigation by the Office of the Swiss
Attorney-General: the under-valued selling of
Caribbean World Cup TV rights to Jack Warner
(in his CONCACAF dictatorship days) and the
authorising of a “disloyal payment" of 2million

Swiss Francs to Platini in 2011.

Platini's suspension was due to his
acceptance of the SFr2m. which he claimed
was for work undertaken for FIFA between
1999 and 2002. Fle has yet to come up with
a plausible explanation for the nine-year delay
in demanding payment.

Blatter had boasted for so long about the
creation of the independent ethics committee;
indeed, he had always made a point of using
the word "independent". Fle had not expected
it to be independent
enough, of course, to
suspend him - though
one assumes he
found consolation in
seeing Platini dragged
down with him.

Simultaneously, ethics judge Flans-Joachim
Eckert was being kept busy by other alleged
miscreants as Warner was, justifiably if
belatedly, banned from football; Chung
Mong-joon was taken out of the presidential
race by a six-year ban arising out of the 2018-
2022 bid inquiry; and there were 90-day
provisional suspensions for FIFA secretary-
general Jerome Vaicke (earlier "relieved of his
duties" by Blatter over other financial issues)
and Thailand's Worawi Makudi.

Also under investigation are Franz

Beckenbauer and Spain's long-serving
federation president Angel Maria Villar Llona,
as well as Ricardo Teixeira (Brazil), Amos
Adamu (Nigeria) and Nicolas Leoz (Paraguay),
plus two of the "Zurich Seven" in Jeffrey Webb
(Cayman Islands) and Eugenio Figueredo
(Uruguay). Webb is already back in the US
and on bail after denying all charges in the
FIFAgate investigation, and so too is ex-
CBF president Jose Maria Marin, whose
“negotiations" with the FBI explain why his
successor, Marco Polo Del Nero, is frightened
to leave the unextraditable safety of Brazil.

The five remaining members of the Zurich
Seven have been cleared for extradition but
are appealing to the Swiss Fligh Court.

In the meantime, plans for the presidential
election on February 26 continue, and so
does the work of the reform committee under
Swiss lawyer Francois Carrard. A limit of three
four-year terms for the president (but not the
ExCo) has found favour, plus an age limit of 74
and full transparency on pay. The ExCo will
decide in early December on a package to set
before the extraordinary congress.

Seven contenders were accepted into the
election process - though Platini only if he
clears his name in time.

No obvious favourite stood out. Prince Ali
will presumably lack European support this
time; Sheikh Salman will be hammered all
the way by human rights groups; Jerome
Champagne (by far the deepest thinker about
the game and the challenges ahead) may be
perceived as having
been too close to
Blatter for too long;
Gianni Infantino is
clearly a stand-in for
his boss; Musa Bility
has ruffled some regional feathers in Africa;
which leaves Tokyo Sexwale as a possible
compromise candidate somewhere down
the line.

Blatter, despite his suspension, will continue
to pull strings and call in favours in between his
paranoid rants about everyone being against
him - the US, England, UEFA, the European
Parliament, Michel Platini and even (horror of
horrors!) his own ethics committee.

Eckert & co were supposed to clean up the
rest of the game, not him. Flere, at least then,
was a glimmer of hope. iV5

Blatter, despite
his suspension, will
continue to pull strings

WORLD SOCCER 13

THE WORLD THIS MONTH

FROM

THE

EDITOR

We have lots of great football stories this month. From the Euro
2016 qualifiers, there has been the high of Albania (page 34) and
the low of Holland (page 82). We’ve witnessed Mexico’s defeat of
the USA (pages 76 and 78), and we have a terrific interview with
Barcelona’s man of the moment, Ivan Rakitic (page 50).

But once again we find ourselves having to report on the
ongoing meltdown at FIFA, where the
increasingly delusional ramblings of Sepp
Blatter (aged 79 and three-quarters) have
provided yet another reason for us to
welcome his departure in February.

We have headlined our feature on the
presidential contest (page lo) as “The
impossible election” because whoever wins
- and let’s be honest, none of the seven
candidates truly convinces - the internal
structures of FIFA have proved wholly
resistant to change.

The requirement that presidential candidates have at least two
years’ involvement in football has ruled out any external
candidates. Yet an outsider with no baggage is exactly what
FIFA requires if there is to be any chance of serious change.

It is a challenge for a monthly
publication - whether paper or il
to stay in touch with all the events at
FIFA. But don’t forget our regular
updates and analysis at
worldsoccer.com.

Gavin Hamilton, Editor

An outsider with
no baggage is
exactly what
FIFA requires if
there is to be
any chance of
serious change

10 SIGNIFICANT EVENTS THIS MONTH

pr^ Platini and Blatter suspended by FIFA ethics committee page 10

FIFA election candidates page 10

EJj^ Germany World Cup bribery claims page 14

Albania qualify for Euro 2016 page 34

Euro 2016 play-offs page 72

Mexico beat USA page 76

Holland fail to qualify for Euro 2016 page 82

Indonesia suspended by FIFA page 84

Argentina fail to win their opening two World Cup qualifiers page 75

E*^ Jorge Jesus guides Sporting Lisbon to win over former club Benfica page 42

■ GERMANY

DFB fights
claims 2006 vote
was bought with
slush fund

No World Cup award this century has
escaped the taint of deep suspicion and
political connivance.

• South Korea’s securing of co-host rights
with Japan for 2002 owed everything to a
European-endorsed political ambush of
then FIFA president Joao Flavelange.

• South Africa's 2010 success hedged
about with bribery allegations concerning
a $10million payment via FIFA to
CONCACAF boss Jack Warner's so-called
"African diaspora" (cash he divvied up with
CONCACAF’s two other voters).

• Brazil's Ricardo Teixeira profiting in 2014
from staging matches in far more venues

Accused...DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach

than was necessary.

• And as for 2018 and 2022,
investigations will still be running when
Russia stages its opening match.

To this backdrop, further murky details
have crawled out from beneath the
German football federation's stone about
how it obtained 2006.

Reputations sullied so far include Franz
Beckenbauer, current German FA (DFB)
president Wolfgang Niersbach, his
predecessor Theo Zwanziger, long-serving
former general secretary Florst R Schmidt,
and Robert Louis-Dreyfus, the late former
owner of World Cup sponsor Adidas.

Unproven suspicions have long hung
over activities of the German bid

14 WORLD SOCCER

O O

GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

“Without a doubt there was a slush fund
linked to the German World Cup application...

the way I see it, Niersbach is lying”

Former German FA president Theo Zwanziger (right)
attacks his successor, Wolfgang Niersbach

I Under investigation...Blatter (left) and Beckenbauer

f^^nnarchen

^ re ivahre Geschichte der WM 20 og

der WM 2006

committee which Beckenbauer headed.

These included Bayern Munich (where
he was president) playing friendlies in
countries to generate TV rights for FIFA
ExCo voters. Then there was the flight for
home of Oceania president Charlie
Dempsey before the final round of voting.
This subsequently tallied up 12-11 to
Germany and Dempsey's lost vote meant
Blatter could not use his casting ballot
which would have been destined for
South Africa. Now it has emerged that
when the Germans launched their bid,
Louis-Dreyfus loaned Beckenbauer's bid
committee the equivalent of €6.7million as
seed funding in a private rather than
directly corporate capacity.

A year before the finals he asked for his
money back. A letter uncovered by news
magazine Der Spiegel purports to show
that FIFA was asked to repay the money
via the cover of a “cultural programme'' to
a Louis-Dreyfus bank account in Geneva.

This promoted panic in the DFB.
Niersbach revealed he had found out
about a mystery payment last June but
had omitted to tell the rest of the DFB
board and had only now initiated an
inquiry. Fie rejected Spiegel suggestions
that the money had been used as a slush
fund to buy votes. So did Beckenbauer.

Flowever, both men said such a
payment - of, conveniently, a similar
amount - had been facilitated to FIFA to
guarantee the provision of a €170m grant
towards World Cup staging costs.

Zwanziger, who has been engaged in a
running feud with Niersbach since being
ousted by him from the DFB in 2013 and
subsequently from the FIFA and UEFA
executive committees, has insisted there
was a slush fund and that Niersbach and
Der Kaiser knew about it. .

Slush or not, certainly a lot more dirt.

KeIrRadnedge

oessere iVefr

B«effic/iferinivfWwssc.
warum/ftf Baby start

trdog^i^ t. r:..
Wa s r*gen die

tiji

WORLD SOCCER 15

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GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

“Despite several attempts, it was
not possible to get everyone
back together in one line”

Heerenveen put out a statement announcing the
resignation of the Dutch ciub's entire board of directors

HEROES

VILLAINS

■ HOLLAND

Cruyff to undergo
treatment for
lung cancer

Johan Cruyff has been diagnosed with lung cancer,
his former club Ajax have confirmed.

Ajax director Edwin Van der Sar said on the
club's website: "We have had contact with his
manager, Carole Thate, and she confirmed to us
that Johan indeed has lung cancer.

"It has just been discovered, so they could not
yet provide much more information. On behalf of
the club, I wish Johan and his family a lot of
strength and a speedy recovery!’

Cruyff, 68, was a heavy smoker prior to double
heart bypass surgery in 1991, after which he took
to sucking lollipops on the touchline while coach
of Barcelona. He retired from management in
1996 but remains an important figure behind the
scenes at his former clubs Ajax and Barcelona.

Having lived in Spain for many years, Cruyff
took part in an anti-smoking commercial in which
he said football had given him everything but that
smoking had taken almost everything away.

Cheer...Barcelona wear T-shirts in support of Cruyff

JOSH MAGENNIS

The Kilmarnock forward,
who was a reserve keeper
for Cardiff City in the
2012 League Cup Final
at Wembley, replaced
suspended Kyle Lafferty
for Northern Ireland's
home Euro 2016 qualifier
against Greece and scored
the decisive second goal.

ELVIN MAMADOV

The Qarabag midfielder deliberately missed
a penalty during an Azerbaijan league game
because he thought the referee's award of the
spot-kick had been wrong.

GARY NEVILLE & RYAN GIGGS

The former Manchester United players allowed
homeless squatters to remain over the winter in
a property they are developing into a luxury
hotel in the city.

MIKE GRELLA

The New York Red Bulls midfielder became the
fastest goalscorer in MLS history, finding the net
after just seven seconds of the game against
Philadelphia Union. It bettered, by one second,
Tim Cahill's effort, also for Red Bulls, against
Houston Dynamo in 2013.

Quick...Mike Grella needed just seven seconds to score

ABDULLAH QASSEM

The United Arab Emirates player was jailed for
three months after insulting national coach
Mahdi AN with indecent gestures in a video.

JOHANNES GEIS

The Schalke midfielder got a five-match ban for
stamping on Borussia Monchengladbach's Andre
Hahn in their Bundesliga clash.

Off..Johannes Geis (no5) sees red for his challenge

NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM

Former Manchester City defender Sun Jihai
became only the 37th person - alongside the
likes of Bobby Moore, Bill Shankly and Eric
Cantona - to be inducted in the museum's hall
of fame... on the same day that Chinese state
president Xi Jinping visited Manchester with UK
prime minister David Cameron.

Own goal...Sun Jihai (second right) is inducted

GEIRTHORSTEINSSON

The Iceland FA president, who was UEFA's
match delegate at the recent Manchester City
V Sevilla Champions League game, reported
City supporters for booing the Champions
League anthem - an "offence" that could
lead to a disciplinary fine.

For keeps...Magennis
secures place at finals

WORLD SOCCER 17

THE WORLD THIS MONTH

L

“I keep looking at the table.
You never normally spell
Wales with a Q”

National manager Chris Coleman marvels at his
team's qualification for Euro 2016

To see video footage of these goals, and many more that we
have selected, scan the QR code using any free QR reader
that can be downloaded to your smartphone. You can also
see the videos by logging on to http://po.st/l2gEew

[H^[l

1 MATT RITCHIE

Scotland v Poland

Strikes a powerful left-foot shot
on the turn that flies into the top
corner during a 2016 European
Championship qualifying game
at Hampden.

2 ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI

Poland V Republic of Ireland

Of the many goals the Bayern
Munich striker has scored this term,
this diving header for his country
was the one that has probably
meant the most so far as it secured
Poland's qualification for next
summer's Euro 2016 finals.

2 SEBASTIAN GIOVINCO

Toronto v New York Red Bulls

Twists and turns before scoring
with a fine left-foot shot.

4 LUCAS PEREZ

Deportivo La Coruna
V Athletic Bilbao

Flicks up a cross with his heel before
producing a superb turn and volley
to score in the far corner.

5 AHMED HASSAN

Braga v Marseille

A delightful chip over the
goalkeeper to put his team in front
in the Europa League.

6 ALEXANDRE PATO

Sao Paulo v Coritiba

Plays a one-two before
checking back and curling a left-
foot shot into the top corner.

WINNERS

ALBANIA

Reached a major
tournament for
the first time, at
the 23rd attempt,
when qualifying
for next summer's
Euro 2016 finals.

NORTHERN

IRELAND

Topped their
European
Championship
qualifying group
to make it to a
major tournament
for the first time
since the 1986
World Cup.

DINAMO

ZAGREB

The reigning
Croatian
champions
managed a
50th consecutive
game unbeaten
in the league.

ALAHLY

The holders from
Egypt were knocked
out of the African
Confederations Cup
semi-finals after
letting a two-goal
lead slip at home
to Orlando Pirates.

ARGENTINA &
BRAZIL

Were both beaten
on the same World
Cup qualifying
matchday for
the first time.

HOLLAND

Failed to qualify for
the Euros for the
first time since 1984
and miss out on a
major finals for the
first time since the
2002 World Cup.

LOSERS

18 WORLD SOCCER

GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

“I don’t worry about a player’s age.
All I’m interested in is whether
they are good or not”

Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic hands a
first-team debut to 16-year-old
keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma

o

o

Highlights
from some
of our
regular
on-line
contributions

from Brazil, Spain,
Germany and Italy at

worldsoccer.com

SOUTH AMERICA

So perhaps next year's Centenary Copa
America will go ahead after all.

The tournament to celebrate 100 years
since the first Copa in 1916, and featuring
the 10 South American nations plus six
from CONCACAF, is scheduled to take
place in the USA next June, but has run
into an obvious problem.

Rather than being just a FIFA scandal,
all those arrests in a Swiss hotel at the end
of May could also be described as a local
affair: a tale of corruption involving TV
rights in the Americas - the very terrain

of the proposed tournament.

Unravelling all the legal aspects has not
been easy, but CONMEBOL has said it is
ripping up its contract with Datisa, the TV
company formed by a merger of all those
firms whose name has come up in the
connection with recent events.

An executive committee has been
formed to take care of next year's Copa,
comprising two representatives each from
CONMEBOL and CONCACAF, and one
from US Soccer. Their task is to choose
venues and sort out the organisational
side within just over seven months.

Tim Vickery

GERMANY

Overachieving small-town teams with
limited playing resources often find it tough
to combine the Europa League with
domestic obligations, and that certainly
seems to be the case for Augsburg, who
in a few short months have gone from
fifth-place last season to dysfunctional
bottom of the
Bundesliga pile
this term.

With fixtures
coming thick and
fast, Markus
Weinzierl's side do
not seem as fresh
and resourceful
as they were last
year, and not as
defensively switched-
on or sharp going

they have been worked out.

Rather than allow Augsburg to play on
the counter, opponents are letting them
have the ball - and Weinzierl's side have
lacked the guile to break sides down.

“Die Fuggerstadtek’ may have to forget
about Europe. Bundesliga survival is all
that matters.

Nick Bidwell

forward. Essential ly. Not a priority...Augsburg celebrate scoring against AZ in the Europa League

G>nfident..Mihajlovic says he can turn Milan around

According to Giovanni Trapattoni, there
are only two types of football coaches;
those who have been sacked and
those who will be sacked.

Right now, Milan's Sinisa Mihajlovic
might have good reason to reflect on
Trapattoni's home-spun philosophy.
After nine Serie A games, Milan
languished in
mid-table,
much to the
dismay of their
hardcore fans.

That, in itself,
was enough to
prompt media
speculation
that maybe the
folk at Milanello
have already
lost faith in this season's new leader.

A 2-1 win over Sassuolo, with goals
from Carlos Bacca and Luiz Adriano,
took the pressure off Mihajlovic for a
while, but it will not have been lost on
the Serb coach that, for the first time
in three months, club owner Silvio
Berlusconi turned up at the training
ground to rally the troops.

That same day, Mihajlovic opted to
“get his retaliation in first'', claiming
he was the man to get Milan season's
back on track, before adding: "If I don't
succeed, you're going to need an
exorcist around here''.

Paddy Agnew

WORLD SOCCER 19

THE WORLD THIS MONTH

k

“Fm ready to take charge of a national
team. I don’t want Dunga’s place yet,
but if the phone rings Fll come running”

Former Brazil full-back Roberto Carlos

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

EUROPE

i Ex-Italy coach ROBERTO DONADONI

succeeded Delio Rossi after he was sacked
by Serie A stragglers Bologna.

t Dutchman HUUB STEVENS replaced
Markus Gisdol at Bundesliga stragglers
Hoffenheim, who will appoint 28-year-old

JULIAN NAGELSMANN at the end of the

season. Currently in charge of the club's
under-19 side and studying for his senior
licence, Nagelsmann will become the
Bundesliga’s youngest ever coach.

Kop man..Jurgen Klopp gets his point across to his new charges

Liverpooi turn to Kiopp

Former Borussia Dortmund boss JURGEN KLOPP replaced
Brendan Rodgers as manager of Liverpool, while SAM
ALLARDYCE took over from Dick Advocaat at Sunderland.

i QUIQUE SETIEN replaced Paco
Herrera as coach of La Liga stragglers Las
Palmas, while RUBI took over from Lucas
Alcaraz at Levante after a 4-0 home loss
to Real Sociedad.

Ahead of the winter transfer window
that opens in January, Roma made
permanent the loan signings of EDIN
DZEKO and MOHAMED SALAH, from
Manchester City and Chelsea respectively.

EnTEUR^fl^

Start...Stefan Effenberg (centre) at Paderborn

A More than a decade after the end
of his playing career, former Germany
international midfielder STEFAN
EFFENBERG was handed his first
coaching job, taking charge of second-
tier Paderborn.

A STANISLAV CHERCHESOV, who left

Dynamo Moscow in July, replaced Henning
Berg as coach of Legia Warsaw with the
side 10 points behind the leaders in the
Polish league.

A Former Finland coach MIXU
PAATELAINEN was appointed manager
of Dundee United, replacing Jackie
McNamara, with the side bottom of
the Scottish Premiership.

A Former England centre-forward
CARLTON COLE, who was released by
West Ham United in the summer, has
joined Scottish champions Celtic on a
two-year deal.

ft OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER, who

coached Molde to the league title in 2011
and 2012, took charge of the Norwegian
club for a second time.

t Former Belgium boss GEORGES
LEEKENS returned for a third stint with
stragglers Lokeren, who parted company
with Bob Peeters.

A Northern Ireland’s record goalscorer
DAVID MEALY, who found the net 36
times during his 95 international games,
was given his first managerial job, in
charge of Linfield.

It Capped 100 times by his country before
retiring last year, LEVAN KOBIASHVILI
was elected president of the Georgian
Football Federation.

SOUTH AMERICA

ft Goias' appointment of DANNY SERGIO
means only three Brazilian clubs have the
coach with which they started the season.

CONCACAF

ft Colombian JUAN CARLOS OSORIO

resigned as coach of Brazilian side Sao
Paulo to take charge of Mexico.

M Former USA international EARNIE
STEWART will take over as sporting
director of Philadelphia Union in January.

AFRICA

M Portuguese coach JOSE PESEIRO
replaced Fathi Mabrouk as coach of
Egypt's Al Ahly.

ft Cameroon's most capped player of
all time with 137, RIGOBERT SONG was
appointed coach of Chad's national team,
replacing Emmanuel Tregoat.

Experience...Rigobert Song is in charge of Chad

ASIA

ft Former Guangzhou Evergrande coach
and Italy captain FABIO CANNAVARO
took charge of Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr.

20 WORLD SOCCER

GLOBAL FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE

“It helps pulmonary circulation,
it enables the heart to pump more
blood, it creates more oxygen ”

Independiente club doctor Luis Chiaradia on plans to give the Argentinian club's
players Viagra before a Sudamericana Cup match against Santa Fe of Colombia

Appointments, sackings and loans

EUROPE

9 TIM SHERWOOD was sacked as Aston
Villa manager following a defeat against
Swansea City that left his side languishing
in the Premier League relegation zone.

P Former France striker DJIBRIL CISSE,
who was released by Bastia at the end of
last season, has retired at the age of 34.

Failure...Eli Guttman left after Isreal missed out

V Lithuania s IGORIS PANKRATJEVAS

quit after the 3-0 loss to England, while
Israel coach ELI GUTTMAN resigned after
his side's failure to qualify for Euro 2016.

V TRAIANOS DELLAS resigned as coach
of AEK Athens after they lost 4-0 at
Olympiakos in the Greek Super League.

V VLADICA PETROVIC was sacked by
Drina Zvornik, who were bottom of the
Bosnian Premier League, but only found
out via the club's Facebook page.

AFRICA

9 VINCENT ENYEAMA, Nigerias

most-capped player, and Super Eagles
striker EMMANUEL EMENIKE have both
retired from international football.

ASIA

9 English coach PETER TAYLOR

was sacked by Kerala Blasters after
a disappointing start to this year's
Indian Super League campaign.

Raul calls time on
21-year career

Former Real Madrid and Spain forward
RAUL has announced his retirement as
a player.

The 38-year-old, who left Real
Madrid in 2010 as the club's all-time
leading goal-scorer, had spells with
German club Schalke and Qatar's
Al Sadd Sports Club before signing
for New York Cosmos of the North
American Soccer League, the tier
below Major League Soccer, last year.

“When I signed for the New York
Cosmos in December, I said I would
evaluate how I felt towards the end of
the year and assess whether I would
continue to playj' Raul said. "My decision
is to retire from playing at the end of
this season. I am fully focused on
finishing the season strong and helping
the New York Cosmos win the NASL
championship. In the coming months
I will decide the next step in my career.

"Playing has been part of my life for
so long. The decision to retire is not an
easy one but I believe it's the right time!'

■ OBITUARIES

Howard KENDALL (1946-2015)

The former Everton manager, who guided
the club to league titles in 1985 and 1987,
has died at the age of 69. Kendall played
more than 200 times for Everton, winning
the title in 1970 as part of the famous
“Floly Trinity" along with Alan Ball and
Colin Flarvey, and in his six years as
manager, between 1981 and 1987, he
won the FA Cup and the European Cup-
winners Cup in addition to those league
titles. Fie had two further spells with the
club, along with stints at Blackburn Rovers,
Manchester City, Athletic Bilbao, Notts
County and Sheffield United.

Kendall's former players were quick to
pay tribute, with Gary Lineker, who signed
for Everton after their title success in
1985, tweeting: “Saddened to hear that
Floward Kendall has passed away.

Brilliantly managed the best club side I
ever played for at Everton. Great bloke"

Brian Glanville adds: The sad death
of the splendid Floward Kendall takes me
back to two back-to-back European
fixtures in 1985. In Rotterdam for Everton's
3-1 victory over Rapid Vienna in the Cup-
winners Cup Final, the only misdemeanour
I saw was when an Everton fan walked out
of the restaurant where I was lunching
berating the bill.

What a shocking contrast with the
drunken violence of the Liverpool
supporters in Brussels the following week
at the European Cup Final versus Juventus.

The FA did public penance with a
five-year ban from Europe on all English
clubs. Collective punishment, that ugly
phenomenon. Liverpool deserved a ban.
Everton, who had won the Championship
(the real one) under the excellent Kendall,
was among the many other clubs which
didn't. Those five years of banishment did
great harm to English football.

Meanwhile, such splendid memories of
Kendall, who was the youngest player ever
in an FA Cup Final, for Preston in 1964,
but was never capped.

WORLD SOCCER 21

THE WORLD

THIS MONTH

Paul

GARDNER

1mm

THE WORLDWIDE VIEW

why MLS plays in the summer...
and other American oddities

Off...New York Red Bulls' attempts to clear snow from the pitch for their 2012 play-off with DC United were in vain

We’re at that time of the year when Major
League Soccer's season climaxes and its
critics enjoy themselves by picking it to pieces.
Prominent among those are the Eurosnobs,
a rather boring but quite loud subset of the
larger “nerds and know-alls" group.

The Eurosnobs don’t like MLS because it
doesn’t do things the way they are done in
Europe. Northern-hemisphere teams play in
the autumn and winter and everyone knows
it. But MLS plays in the summer and the
Eurosnobs are greatly put out as they see this
as an affront to the natural order. Even though
these people live in the USA - and most are
American - they seem unaware of the unique
problems soccer faces in their country.

In the US, big-time professional sport
- which means baseball, gridiron football,
basketball and ice hockey - has the whole
year sewn up. There is simply no time when
soccer can be played without going up against
a competing pro sport. No established football
country faces such a situation.

MLS has worked out - just as North
American Soccer League did before - that
summer is the best period for a soccer season,
when their main challenger is baseball. Soccer

can survive against baseball, the wisdom goes.
But that’s not quite as neat as it sounds. MLS
growth - it started in 1996 with 10 teams
and now has 20 - means more games and
a longer season. The current campaign began
on March 6 and will not end until the MLS Cup
Final on December 6.

Playing the Final in December raises
another problem: cold
weather. Given the vast
range of temperatures
in this huge country,
it should be possible
to avoid playing the
Final in northern cities.

But in 2012 MLS
abandoned its policy of playing the Final in
a predetermined - and usually warm - city.
Instead, it is now played at the home of one
of the finalists.

If that happens to be California’s Los
Angeles Galaxy or Florida’s Orlando City, warm
weather can be guaranteed. This year Galaxy
were one of the favourites to reach the Final.
But so too were the New York Red Bulls, while
Toronto, New England Revolution and Montreal
Impact were also candidates. All of those

venues would be cold, possibly very cold,
maybe even with snow.

That’s another reason for playing in summer:
the northern winter in the USA would make
the frozen-hard pitches at up to nine of the
northern MLS clubs simply unusable. And
when you’re trying to introduce the great
American public to the beauty and delight
of soccer, frostbite and chilblains should not
be part of the deal.

Closed, centrally heated stadia could be an
answer, and maybe one day MLS will lead the
sport in that direction, but that’s not going to
happen for quite a while.

And there is something else that MLS
does not do that annoys outsiders. With
no promotion and relegation, the Eurosnobs
have convinced themselves that the game will
not take off in the USA until there is. But the
system does not exist in other American pro
sports and would simply not work in MLS.

If an investor coughs up, say, $100million
to buy a franchise, they do not expect to be
told that, if the team does not do well in its
first year, they will have to play in the second
division against rinky-dink opponents. Such a
scenario would mean waving goodbye to many
potential investors.

But MLS keeps the excitement alive with
its play-off system. The top six teams in the
Eastern and Western Conferences play within
their divisions to come up with a sub-champion,
and the two then meet in the MLS Cup Final.

In place of a relegation battle there is the
struggle to claim the
fifth and sixth play-off
berths - a mini-battle
that this year went
down to the final day
of the season in both
conferences.

The system works
well, though it does have what the Eurosnobs
regard as a fatal flaw: the team leading on
points at the end of the regular season,
which would be declared the champions under
European procedure, has to enter the play-offs.

An attempt to honour the points winner
is made by awarding them the Supporters’
Shield, but this is really a non-event. And
in the 20 MLS championships so far played,
the top-points teams have won the MLS Cup
only six times. ‘ '

'Tn the US, there is no time
soccer can be played
without going up against
a competing pro sport”

22 WORLD SOCCER

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Jim

HOLDEN

AT THE HEART OF THE GAME

From l6 to 24: expanding the Euros
has revitalised the competition

Upset...lceland salute their supporters after a shock qualifying victory away to Holland in Amsterdam

Critics of the expansion of the European
Championship into a 24-team tournament
- and there have been many of us - argued
that one of the problems of the new set-up
was the certainty of qualification that it would
deliver to all the major nations.

It would be impossible to fail, so it was
said, thus depriving the qualifying groups of
the tension and intrigue that is vital to the
enjoyment of sport.

Well, the demise of Holland has proved
the sceptics wrong. They finished a meagre
fourth in Group A and could not save
themselves in the safety net of the play-offs.

Their implosion has been an astonishing
fall from grace for a country that played in the
World Cup Final of 2010 and reached the
semi-finals in 2014.

Internal trauma can sometimes affect the
Dutch, and certainly they had self-inflicted
wounds, but that doesn’t fully explain what
has occurred here.

Holland's downfall was also due, in part,
to the remarkable progress made by Iceland.
Despite a tiny population of just 320,000
their national side fashioned triumphs home
and away against Robin Van Persie and his
fellow orange superstars.

Iceland have been deserving architects
of their own rise to glory rather than merely
fortunate recipients of Dutch decay. A decade
of investment in high-level coaching and high-
tech indoor pitches have helped develop a
generation of exceptional talent that includes
Gylfi Sigurdsson and Alfred Finnbogason.

In the past, due to the
extremes of climate, they
could play football for
barely five months in and
around Reykjavik, and the
best youngsters always
went abroad early. Now,
an enviable system makes
them punch well above their weight.

Equally crucial for the Icelanders has
been the psychological change provided
by the Euro 2016 system. Opening up the
tournament provided an opportunity for
realistic ambition rather than hopeless
dreaming - especially when they had the
good sense to employ experienced Swedish
coach Lars Lagerback.

This was always part of the rationale of

UEFA - and Iceland are not the only small
and traditionally disregarded country to reap
the benefits.

The same incentive has inspired a
resurgence of both Wales and Northern
Ireland, while Albania - under the watchful
eye of Italian coach Gianni De Biasi, who was
once of Torino and Udinese - have also
qualified for their first
major tournament
De Biasi started his
reign in 2011, convinced
about the merits of a
young group of talented
players, and vindication
came with a qualifying
group victory against Portugal and triumph
in a friendly against France. Eventually, they
qualified automatically, courtesy of a goalless
draw away to Denmark.

For Wales, it will also be a first participation
in a European Championship tournament,
while their one and only World Cup finals
appearance was in the sepia-tinted era of
1958. It can only be to the tournament's
benefit to see the world's most expensive

player, Gareth Bale, in action. He will go where
legends such as Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes and
Ian Rush all failed.

If UEFA had kept to the old 16-team
format, Iceland, Albania and Wales would all
have missed out on automatic qualification,
with no guarantee against being eliminated
in the play-offs.

Under the previous format, the lid could
have been kept on the upstart outsiders - as
the Champions League does so ruthlessly and
as some critics would have preferred.

Instead, the progress of the minnows has
been met mostly with delight and they will
add a welcome new flavour to Euro 2016.
Their success will also serve to inspire
others who have never qualified, such as
Finland and Georgia.

The 24-team tournament in France next
summer will have its issues, but one of them
cannot be the accusation that the competition
is cluttered up by no-hopers.

Anyone who believes that Iceland, Albania
or Wales will be pushovers could be in for a
rude awakening - just like the nonplussed
stars of Holland. '¥5

Iceland have
been deserving
architects of their
own rise to glory

24 WORLD SOCCER

Brian

GLANVILLE

THE VOICE OF FOOTBALL

Mourinho: out of ideas and running out of time

Some managers come and go. Even, it
seems, may Jose Mourinho. Certainly it
would cost Chelsea a fortune if he went so
soon after signing a £30million, four-year
contract, but then even such sums as
this scarcely perturb Chelsea's billionaire
owner Roman Abramovich who, of course,
has sacked Mourinho before.

Against West Ham United, Mourinho's
“crime" was not only that Chelsea lost, but
they lost playing dire, destructive football.
And then there was the umpteenth clash
with a referee, this one going on down the
tunnel at half-time and involving a
reported volley of abuse, followed by
Mourinho's banishment to the stands.

Chelsea's sudden catastrophic decline
this season has reminded one that even
last season, when they so commandingly
won the Premier League, there were
signs of potential decay. Not least in the
European Cup, the greatest prize of all.

Mourinho’s various triumphs testify
to his undoubted talents. But plots
can be lost, judgements may fail

r

Lonely figure..Jose
Mourinho (back
row, right) watches
from the back of the
directors' box after
being sent to the
stands at Upton Park

when they were eliminated at Stamford
Bridge by a Paris Saint-Germain team
controversially reduced to 10 men by the
disputable expulsion of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Mourinho's various triumphs with
Portuguese, Italian and Spanish clubs
testify to his undoubted talents. But plots
can be lost, judgement may fail.

Look at Alf Ramsey, without whose
guidance and inspiration England would
never have won the 1966 World Cup. Yet
by the early 1970s he had so clearly lost
his way, the nadir coming in 1972 with
the two-legged European Championship
quarter-final against the Germans. In the
first leg, at Wembley, England had no ball

winner in midfield, enabling Gunter Netzer
to run riot. In the return, Ramsey made no
real effort to chase the two-goal deficit,
choosing what might politely be termed a
team of hard men. After a bleak goalless
draw, Netzer declared: "The whole England
team has autographed my leg"

Mourinho has certainly not resorted to
that kind of dour selection, but he seems
unable now to inspire his players.

Blue gloom...Andy Carroll gets West Ham's winner

26 WORLD SOCCER

Stanley Rous...from
FA Cup Final referee
to FIFA president

FIFA candidates
sink without trace

Rous set the standard

As I've said often enough before, football
on the international scene is ineptly
incompetent at running its own affairs. This
was exemplified by the fact that whatever
the malfeasances of Sepp Blatter, his
predecessor Joao Havelange remained
in office from 1974 to 1998, effectively
unopposed for all his massive greed and
chicanery, retiring with an estimated
$30million at the very least. It reminds
one yet again of the words of the
18th-century political philosopher
Edmund Burke: “For evil to triumph, it
is enough for good men to do nothing"
Passivity deplorably ruled for all those
years and Havelange flourished like the
green bay tree. Alas, there was no FBI
then to do what should have been done.
Once Stanley Rous had been deviously
and corruptly ousted in his FIFA
presidency by Havelange, villainy ruled.

Neither in FIFA's presidency, all
too plainly, nor even at the Football
Association, has there ever been a proper
successor to Rous. I do not mean to edify
him, but he was principled, honest and an
excellent administrator who had the good
of the game at heart.

During his 28-year reign as secretary
of the Football Association, which he
became soon after refereeing the 1934
FA Cup Final, he himself re-wrote the
laws of the game and, for better or worse,
brought the British countries back into the
ranks of FIFA.

He was, and arguably all to the good, an
autocratic figure and something of a snob.
It was he who kept Walter Winterbottom in
office as England's team manager for an
astonishing and excessive 16 years, despite
offering the role to Jesse Carver - a secret
that I kept for many years.

As FIFA thresh around to find a new
president, putting temporarily in the chair
none other than Issa Hayatou, who has a
record as long as your arm, one potential
candidate after another lurks on the
horizon only to disappear.

Sheikh Salman from Bahrain seemed
to be talking a good game until he was
impugned for supposed complicity in
the maltreatment of civil protesters. Now
a new candidate. South African Tokyo
Sexwale, has emerged, who perhaps may
be elected by default. He could hardly be
worse than the previous two incumbents.

UEFA's Gianni Infantino? Uninspiring.
Meanwhile, we learn Franz Beckenbauer
and the Spaniard Angel Maria Villar Fiona
have been "the subjects of proceedings"
with the others over the bidding process
for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Apparently, Beckenbauer and Fiona face
no charges over their behaviour in the actual
bidding process. This, though an exhaustive
Sunday Times FIFA investigation published
a witness statement - so far unchallenged
- that Beckenbauer had been paid by the
Under investigation... Russians, while his meetings with Qatari
Franz Beckenbauer representatives have been duly chronicled.

Rabbatts right, Chelsea wrong

The lingering case of former Chelsea
doctor Eva Carneiro simply will not fade
away. Now it has involved the estimable
Heather Rabbatts, who well deserves
a focal place in the FA's otherwise all
male and, in the immortal words of its
chairman Greg Dyke, otherwise “hideously
white" hierarchy.

Where Ms Rabbatts was absolutely
right was to question the casual and
peremptory way in which an FA alleged
investigation decided that Mourinho had
no case to answer for allegedly abusing
Dr Carneira. He was accused of yelling
at the Gibraltarian the Portuguese words
"filha da puta", meaning “daughter of a
whore". The FA inquiry trotted out an
expert who declared that what he had said

Speaking out...
Heather Rabbatts
has attacked the
FA’S handling of the
Carneiro case

was Jilho da puta", meaning son of a
whore. Which in context made no sense
whatsoever and was in any case
contradicted by several Portuguese
speakers who had heard the words.

I need hardly remind you that in
running on to the field to tend a prone
Eden Hazard - very late in the game, but
so what? - Dr Carneira, who had actually
been called on by the referee, had no
alternative but to comply.

That Mourinho should so frequently
whinge and whine about the way the FA
have treated him and his behaviour, while
being so controversially let off so serious a
charge, seems ludicrous to a degree. And
Dr Carneira wasn't even interviewed.

Just as ludicrous is the perverse

behaviour of two senior FA councillors, the
elderly Ron Barston and Richard Tur, who
have absurdly demanded an inquiry into
Ms Rabbatts' impeccable behaviour,
insisting she has breached FA rules. Which
brings echoes of the Dickensian character
Mr Bumble who opined memorably: “If the
law supposes that, then the law is an ass"
Good to know that Dr Carneira is suing
Chelsea for effectively forcing her out of a
job she was doing conscientiously and well.
Mourinho should never have been allowed
to treat her so badly without sanction.

# Read Brian Glanville^s
weekly online column
at worldsoccer.com

WORLD SOCCER 27

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eye

A'

witness

Steve Menary reports
from Yerevan

■ ARMENIA

Rock bottom and
going nowhere fast

Domestic game struggling in post-Soviet era

Alyosha Abrahamyan is a regular spectator
at Ararat Yerevan games, but these days
there is little left that one of Armenia’s
greatest-ever goalkeepers can recognise.

In 1973, Abrahamyan was in goal as
Ararat won the Soviet league-and-cup
double, and the following season they
reached the European Cup quarter-finals.
A 70,000 crowd saw them beat Bayern
Munich 1-0, before the Germans edged
through 2-1 on aggregate and went on
to win the European Cup.

Four decades on and independence
from the Soviet Union has done little for
football in Armenia. Abrahamyan is now
Ararat's goal keeping coach but, after
multiple changes of ownership and
financial failures, the club is
unrecognisable from the one he played for.

The crowds have gone too. Abrahamyan
is one of barely 100 people watching as
Ararat fall behind to bottom-of-the-table
Ulisses. American midfielder Bryan De la
Fuente scores two fine second-half goals
to rescue a win, but the match - like most
in the Armenian Premier League - is a
desultory affair.

De la Fuente tries to talk up Armenian
football. "The crowds are small but they
are loyal," he says without a flicker of irony.
Previously, he played in MLS for the now
defunct Chivas USA, but he admits his

Close...Henrikh Mkhitaryan (left) in a 2014 World Cup qualifier

second season in Armenia will be his last.

After the game, a handful of young
Armenian web journalists surround Ararat
coach Varuzhan Sukiasyan for a quote as
the tiny crowd quickly vanishes into the
Yerevan night.

After his side finished bottom of the
table last season, Sukiasyan is under
pressure to make improvements, but
expectations are low at Ararat and in
the wider Armenian domestic game.

In the 2014 World Cup qualifiers,
the national side came within a match
of making the play-offs. But despite the
success of Henrikh Mkhitaryan at Borussia

Dortmund, they have since

I struggled and coach Bernard
Challandes left this summer.
That brief international
I success masked a domestic
' game at its lowest ebb.

; In the 2014-15 Champions
League, Banants were
humiliatingly knocked out in
the first qualifying round by
FC Santa Coloma of Andorra.
No Andorran side had ever
won a Champions League
tie before.

Armenian football is

“The league itself is not competitive.
The interest is not big”

Hayk Karapetyan, Football Federation of Armenia

nearly at rock bottom. In UEFA's 2016-17
access list, the Armenian Premier League
is only ranked above Andorra, San Marino
and Gibraltar - places where the club
game is amateur or part-time at best
and only three teams qualify for Europe.

The implications for Armenian football
of falling any lower are dire.

At present, half of the eight APL clubs

30 WORLD SOCCER

qualify for European competition, which
offers the only real source of outside
funding for club owners such as Bagrat
Navoyan of Alashkert, as running an APL
club costs up to €2million a season.

A local travel agent, Navoyan took the
brave if not foolhardy step of setting up
a new club in 2012, with the club named
after the village - in what is now Turkey
- that his Armenian grandparents fled
from to escape Turkish genocide a
century ago.

This season, Alashkert made their
European debut, but after beating
Scotland's St Johnstone they fell in the
second qualifying round of the Europa

League to Kazakhstan's Kairat. The €10,000
they earned may be small change for
Europe's elite, but not in Armenia.

Sitting in the Yerevan office of his
company Bagratours, Navoyan leans
back in his chair to show where Alashkert's
funding comes from. “Here," he says,
patting the wallet in his trouser pocket.

He claims to have had offers from
Belarus and Scotland of €100,000 for
striker Mihran Manasyan, but he is holding
out for more.

If Manasyan does get sold, it will be
something of a watershed.

Some overseas players in Armenia can
earn up to $5,000 a month but most

locals average $1,000. Many are seeking
an exit, but Armenians, with the exception
of Mkhitaryan and a handful of others, are
not in demand.

This summer, a host of Armenian
players went for trials in search of a
professional contract overseas but not
one of them succeeded.

"No one is trying to speak about the
quality;' sighs veteran journalist Zaven
Vardanyan, who has been covering
Armenian football for decades and
believes the game is at its lowest ebb.

At least those players still have clubs at
home. A few years ago, the APL shrank to
just eight sides after four teams - Cement

WORLD SOCCER 31

eyewitness

Ararat Town, Kilikia Yerevan, Zenith
Yerevan and Yerevan United - were
suddenly closed down. Before this season
kicked off, Mika and Ulisses both came
close to folding.

There is no market for players from
such a low-grade league, nor any other
source of income for club owners such
as Navoyan.

When second-place Alashkert host
leaders Pyunik in Yerevan, Armenian
Public Television belatedly agrees to
screen the game. However, they stipulate
that this will only happen if the kick-off is
shifted back by an hour. And even then

there is no fee for Navoyan.

More than 300 people turn up to watch
Pyunik ease home 4-1. Yet there is not
even compensation of money from the
gate for Alashkert who, like all APL clubs
from Yerevan, do not charge for entry.

‘The league itself is not competitive.

The interest is not big," admits Hayk
Karapetyan, media officer at the Football
Federation of Armenia (AFF).

Only a madman would contemplate
starting up a club in this financial
environment but Navoyan, like many
of the Armenians who are involved in
domestic football, prefers to think of
himself as a patriot. "To improve Armenian
football, I try to take my players from
Armenia and I take just three players

from overseas," he says proudly.

The only rule on foreign players is that
APL clubs must have an Armenian
goalkeeper. National keeper Roman
Berezovsky, who is the country's
second-most capped player of all time,
was 40 when he finally retired this
summer and the rule was brought in by
the AFF in an attempt to give game time
to potential successors.

With no limit on outfield players, clubs
such as Mika and Ulisses use a swathe of
overseas players from places as diverse as

Scout...Khoren

Kalayshan

the USA, Brazil, Peru, Congo, Cameroon,
Mali and Nigeria.

Armenian football is a free-for-all with
agents using the game as a last resort, but
many of these agencies are not even
based in Armenia. One of the biggest.
Bucket Group, which represents Manasyan,
is based in Serbia. Talent scout Khoren
Kalayshan works across Eastern Europe
but he does live in Yerevan and, like
Navoyan, views himself as a patriot - and
on a mission.

Over the last century, Armenians have

FIVE KEY FIGURES IN ARMENIAN FOOTBALL

RUBEN HAYRAPETYAN

AFF president implicated
in a number of violent
incidents, including the
death in 2012 of a military
doctor, Vahe Avetyan.

ROMAN BEREZOVSKY

Armenia's second-most
capped player retired
this summer and is now
goalkeeping coach with
Dynamo Moscow.

SARGIS HOVSEPYAN

With 131 caps, he is the
country's most capped
player and was interim
coach after Bernard
Challandes left this summer.

■'n

HENRIKH MKHITARYAN

National team captain,
the attacking midfielder
was dogged with injury
in 2014-15 but is finding
his form this season.

BAGRAT NAVOYAN

Runs the Bagratours travel
agency and funds Alashkert,
who are challenging
Pyunik's dominance of
the local club scene.

32 WORLD SOCCER

suffered the Turkish genocide, the
suffocating blanket of communism, the
1988 Spitak earthquake and a war in
1992 with neighbouring Azerbaijan over
Nagorno Karabakh.

Millions left in search of a better
life, but three million people still live
in Armenia, with two or even three times
that number living abroad.

Kalayshan is scouring the diaspora for
players and has brought more than half a
dozen youngsters to the attention of the
AFF - including CSKA Moscow teenager
Grigori Emeksuzyan, who was born in
Sochi to Armenian emigres, and David
Martirosyan of Czech side Teplice.

Despite the financial absurdity of the
Armenian club game, Kalayshan points
to the transformation of Kazakh domestic
football and argues for more investment.

“There are only eight teams and they
play each other four times; for the players,

I don't think it is so interesting," he says.

“The persons who are investing in
Armenian football are heroes. They get the
money from their business and put it into
football. There is no income. To think of
income is ridiculous. First you must invest.
The Armenian Premier League needs 10
or 12 clubs"

Kalayshan is quick to praise not just the

owners but also AFF president, Ruben
Flayrapetyan. In power for more than
a decade, Hayrapetyan controls Armenian
football unchallenged due to his
political connections.

Tom Jones, an Englishman who
was assistant to Armenia coach Ian
Porterfield until the ex-Chelsea manager's
death in 2007, remembers Hayrapetyan
as a remote figure who did not deign to
speak to underlings. “You couldn't just go
and speak to him," says Jones.

Hayrapetyan is widely believed to

“The persons who are investing in
Armenian football are heroes”

Loyal...a supporter
of Ararat

Armenian agent Khoren Kalayshan

control Pyunik, whose claim of third-party
ownership on Mkhitaryan deterred the
likes of Liverpool when the player sought
to leave Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013.

Hayrapetyan was the sole candidate
in the last AFF presidential election. With
close connections to the government, he
is unlikely to face a challenge in the next
elections despite Armenian club football
hitting rock bottom. W5

Armenia:
2015 PREMIER
LEAGUE

THE CLUBS

^ALASHKERT

Only formed in 2012, they qualified for
this season's Europa League. Owner
Bagrat Navoyan recently bought the
crumbling Nairi Stadium, which has
been renamed the Alashkert Stadium.

^ARARAT YEREVAN

The country's best-known outfit are
the same in name only to the team that
won the Soviet league-and-cup double
in 1973. The current club is owned by
expats Hratch Kaprielan and Vardan
Srmakesh, who live in the USA and
Switzerland respectively. Ararat play
at the Republic Stadium but finished
bottom of the league last season and
continue to struggle.

V^BANANTS

The original club was formed in 1992
and after an ill-fated merger with
Kotayk of Abovyan, Banants split in
2001 and moved to Yerevan. Now
owned by billionaire industrialist Oleg
Mkrtcyhan, who is Armenia's richest
man and has held stakes in Ukrainian
side Metalurh Donetsk and Kuban
Krasnodar of Russia.

GANDZASAR

One of two clubs from the provinces,
the Kapan-based side were founded
in 2002 and are owned by copper
magnate Maxim Hakubyan. They were
second from bottom last term.

MIKA

Traditionally a heavy user of overseas
talent, the club is part of Russian-based
expat Michael Baghdasarov's Mika
Corporation, whose interests include
a chain of petrol stations.

Winner of 13 titles, including 10 in
a row up to 2011-12. Champions again
in 2014-15 and on course to retain
the title this season, they play at the
Republic Stadium. Sanvel Hayrapetyan
is nominal chairman to satisfy UEFA
rules but his father Ruben, who is the
president of the Football Federation
of Armenia, controls the club.

SHIRAK

Founded in 1958 and based in Gyumri,
the club is owned by politician Arman
Sahakyan. They have won the Premier
League four times, most recently in
2012-13, and finished third in 2014-15.

ULISSES

A heavy user of overseas players, the
Yerevan-based club won the 2012-13
title but have no real fan base and came
close to folding this summer. Owner
Genrikh Kazanjian, who controls the
Holiday Group, looks to be selling up.

WORLD SOCCER 33

military parade of ballistic missiles, Serbia
broke away and scored twice in injury time,
leaving the crowd silent and the Albanian
players bereft. Serbia’s players and officials
celebrated as if they had won the whole
tournament itself.

“We approached the last minutes trying
to keep my players focused," said Albania's
captain, Lorik Cana, after the game. "We
knew we had the opportunity to qualify
tonight. We wanted to reach qualification
tonight, in our land, in front of our people"

All was not yet lost, however. There
would be one last chance, against Armenia
in Yerevan three days later.

Few had given Albania much of a

James Montague reports from Tirana

I ALBANIA

Qualification
against all odds

Albania may have lost to bitter rivals Serbia,
but they still made it to Euro 2016

It certainly looked and felt as if the greatest
opportunity in the national team's history
had slipped through their fingers. The final
whistle had just been blown at a drenched
Elbasan Arena and Albania had been
beaten 2-0 by Serbia in their penultimate
Euro 2016 qualification game.

Most of Albania's players were laying on
their backs, distraught, as Serbia
celebrated victory in what had become a
match dominated by international politics
and history as much as football.

On paper, Serbia had nothing to play for.
Yet the manner of their failure to qualify
for France next summer was tinged with a
sense of injustice. They had effectively
been eliminated following the reverse
fixture last year, when violence broke out
after a drone was flown into the Partizan
Stadium carrying a banner festooned with
Albanian nationalist symbols.

The match was abandoned, Albania
were awarded the three points and Serbia

docked a further three - after an
unsuccessful trip to the Court of
Arbitration for Sport - for failing to control
their fans. But with a bad taste enduring
from that match, added to an already
combustible atmosphere - due to the
rivalry between the two nations that
came to the fore following the 1999
Kosovo War, which pitted the majority
ethnic Albanian Kosovars against the
Serbs - the match was always more
than simply a dead rubber.

In pure footballing terms, at least,
Albania did have something to play
for. The Balkan country had enjoyed a
superb 2016 European Championship
qualification campaign which had brought
them to the verge of reaching their
first-ever finals of a major tournament.

All they needed, with results going their
way, was victory against Serbia. Instead, in
a match played under the kind of security
reserved for dictatorships arranging a

34 WORLD SOCCER

chance when the draw for Euro 2016
qualification was made. Despite the newly
expanded format opening up new routes
for smaller nations, Portugal, Denmark
and Serbia appeared, on paper at least,
too strong a triumvirate to break.

A nation of just two million people,
Albania had always produced talented
players, at least from its diaspora.

Following the region’s periodic wars,
pockets of ethnic Albanians live across the
Balkans - from Kosovo and Macedonia to
Serbia and beyond, not to mention those
that resettled in Switzerland, the USA, Italy
and France.

Over the past decades many ethnic

Security...police
search a fan outside
the stadium before
the Serbia game

Albanians have chosen to represent their
adopted homes. Take Switzerland’s
national side for example.

Xherdan Shaqiri was born in Kosovo
and even wears an Albanian flag on his
boots, yet he plays internationally for the
Swiss. And he has been joined in that
decision by Granit Xhaka, Blerim Dzemaili
and Valon Behrami - all of whom consider
themselves to be ethnic Albanians.

But the current Albania team is a mix of
diaspora players who, in many cases,
chose to represent the country of their
parents’ birth, mixed with some old hands.
Granit’s Swiss-born brother Taulant Xhaka
chose to represent Albania rather than

WORLD SOCCER 35

eyewitness

Switzerland. Close to half the current team
were born or have roots in Kosovo,
including Lazio goalkeeper Etrit Berisha,
who was born there. And then there is
skipper Cana, who was born in Kosovo but
fled during the disintegration of Yugoslavia
to become a refugee in Switzerland.

An opening fixture away to Portugal was
the toughest first step towards the Euro
finals imaginable for Albania's Italian
coach, Gianni De Biasi. But a stunning 1-0
victory thanks to a goal from Bekim Balaj,
followed by two draws with Denmark and
a victory at home to Armenia, gave the
team the perfect platform for an unlikely
shot at qualification.

Yet it was the game in Belgrade that
would define both Albania and Serbia's

Flashpoint...a drone towing a flag bearing a pro-Albanian sentiment flies over the Partizan Stadium

qualification campaigns.

Tensions were already high in the
Partizan Stadium during the match; flares
were thrown onto the pitch, and chants of
"Kosovo is Serbia" and "Kill the Albanians"
could already be heard from the crowd
when, in the 42nd minute, a drone
entered the stadium.

When Serbian defender Stefan Mitrovic
tried to take the flag down, it sparked a
confrontation on the pitch that ended with

the drone. Cana described how all the
Albanian players' bags were searched
by Serbian authorities looking for the
remote control.

In the end, it wasn't the brother of the
Albanian PM, nor one of the players who
were responsible. It was a 33-year-old
crane operator Ismail Morinaj, who had
concocted the plan and was flying the
drone from a nearby cathedral tower.

"When the drone and flag entered the
stadium, there was
20 seconds of
silence," Morinaj
said in an interview
shortly before
the return match
in Elbasan.

Morinaj's role
in Albania's Euro
qualification can
not be overlooked.
He is considered
something of a
national hero now
and, although he
vehemently claims

National hero...lsmall Morinaj (with scarf) at the qualifier against Denmark

the Albania players fleeing to the tunnel
under a hail of objects and fists as some
of the crowd came onto the pitch.

"When we saw the fans on the pitch
attacking us, this was something
completely out of control," recalled Cana.

"I was really scared for my players, to be
honest, because I could see that they were
coming from everywhere. [Aleksandar]
Kolarov and [Serbia captain Branislav]
Ivanovic, they really tried to protect us.

"If they hadn't tried to do that then we
would have been in a big mess"

At first, the brother of Albanian prime
minister Edi Rama was blamed for flying

“Too many people say the three
points were because of me. 'What I did
was to raise the patriotic feelings”

Ismail Morinaj, who operated the drone

Clash...Serbla's Adem
Ljajlc Is confronted by
three Albania players

he didn't want to inflame the situation, it is
hard to argue that the banner did not set
an already combustible atmosphere inside
the Partizan Stadium alight.

The three points awarded to Albania
were vital going into the final games -
and they also helped eliminate their
greatest rivals for a play-off spot.

"Too many people say that the three
points were because of you, but I don't
think so," said Morinaj. "Our players went
to Portugal and won. We drew in Denmark.

"I can say that what I did was to raise
the patriotic feelings"

As the return match against Serbia
approached, the authorities took no

36 WORLD SOCCER

ALBANIA

chances with the security and, shortly after
our interview, Morinaj - who had admitted
to carrying a gun for protection because
of the sheer number of death threats he
received from Serbian Facebook accounts
- was arrested.

The road to Elbasan from the capital
Tirana was closed for nine hours before
kick-off and snipers could be seen on the
buildings surrounding the stadium, ready
to shoot down any revenge drones that
dared to fly close by Five hundred special
forces and 2,000 police officers patrolled
outside the ground with water cannon and
tear-gas canisters.

In the end, there was no trouble, even

Heroes...prime
minister Edi Rama
greets the team
on their return
from Armenia

though, as torrential rain fell, Serbia
snatched a late, late victory. The
supporters of Albania's national team -
the "Red and Black", who had chanted for
the release of Morinaj throughout the
game - left quietly. The streets of Elbasan
were empty within an hour.

Cana looked on the bright side and said:
“We still have a massive chance to win in
Armenia and reach the qualification.
Sometimes, the more difficult things are,
the more beautiful things are"

In the end, the Armenia game was
surprisingly straightforward. Albania ran
out 3-0 winners and secured their place
in France next summer. As hard as this
campaign has been, qualification might be

considerably harder in the future.

It is likely that Kosovo, after a lengthy
campaign, will be recognised by UEFA and
FIFA early next year, with the Football
Federation of Kosovo convinced that they
will be admitted in time to join qualification
for the 2018 World Cup. If that happens, it
would likely cut off what has become an
important supply line of talent for the
Albanian national team.

But no one was thinking about that
after the Armenia game. As tens of
thousands celebrated in Tirana, Paris and
Zurich, Cana and his team-mates were
invited to the Albanian Prime Minister’s
residence in front of cheering crowds,
greeted as returning heroes.

Meanwhile, Ismail Morinaj, Albania's
forgotten hero, remains in jail. WS

WORLD SOCCER 37

Keir Radnedge reports from Istanbul

■ TURKEY

Battle of the
^Big Three'

The rivalry between
Istanbul’s leading
clubs continues
against a backdrop of
scandal and corruption

Passion...Besiktas fans celebrate a goal against Albanian side Skenderbeu In the Europa League

Heat, passion, tension and big money.

Once upon a time, Turkish football was
considered an also-ran on the European
stage. The national team, infamously, could
not cope with away-game pressure and
never qualified for the big tournaments,
while club sides had history but little else.

Now, however, over the past two
decades, everything has changed.

There are no easy games against
Turkish teams any more, with Galatasaray
and Fenerbahce boasting training grounds
that are the envy of many of western
Europe's bigger and more internationally
successful clubs. These days, big-name
players head for the Super Lig in
expectation of far more than a last-
contract pay day.

Absent from the finals of the World Cup
and European Championship since
reaching the last four at Euro 2008, the
national side will be strutting its stuff in

Europa campalgn...Gokhan Tore of Besiktas

France this summer, while the country's
leading clubs strive to prove themselves
in the Champions and Europa Leagues.

All this comes against a highly complex
political backdrop which has seen Turkey
drawn ever more into international focus
- which is perhaps inevitable for a country
whose borders stretch from Bulgaria and
Greece to the west, right across the
continental divide to Georgia and Iran
in the east, and then on Syria and Iraq
to the south.

Entangled are long-drawn-out
negotiations about moving closer to *

38 WORLD SOCCER

WORLD SOCCER 39

eyewitness

"the west" through proposals for European
Union membership, which are set against
the internal tensions prompted by the
increasingly authoritarian ambitions of
president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his
ruling Justice and Development Party.

Rumbling in the background is unrest
over corruption talk which has produced
regular tidal flows in first one direction and
then another, and left no sector of Turkish
society untouched; not even football.

The three biggest Turkish clubs continue
to dominate domestically: recent league
leaders Besiktas, defending champions
Galatasaray and Fenerbahce, who
are deemed the most popular and
independent of the three. Abroad,

Besiktas made a

steady start in the
Europa League,
while Galatasaray
revived hopes of
Champions League progress with a 2-1
win at home to Benfica after conceding
a 90-second opening goal.

Fenerbahce made an initial muddle
of their own Europa League campaign,
but they also have serious issues with
European competition and UEFA which
continue to cast a long shadow of
resentment over every game.

In 2012, Fener president Aziz Yildirim, a
multi-millionaire developer, was sentenced
to jail and fined $560,000 for conspiracy
and match-fixing during the 2010-2011
season. The match-fix case was a
sensation, partly because it appeared to
prove what rivals had regularly claimed,
and partly because of its extent.

A year earlier, police raids on homes
and football club premises led to 61
arrests in connection with 19 matches
in the top two divisions - with those

61 including officials from Fenerbahce
and Besiktas.

Accusations focused on 26 cases in the
top two Turkish divisions as well as others
in basketball. Fenerbahce links were
alleged in 15 of the 19 top-flight cases, of
which five concerned the grey area issue
of so-called “third-party bonuses".

In August 2011, the Turkish Football
Federation (TFF) barred Fenerbahce from
the Champions League and gave their
place to their rivals, Trabzonspor. UEFA
duly banned Fener from European
competition for two years and Besiktas
for one season.

Fenerbahce went to the Court of
Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and demanded

Loyal...Galatasaray
supporters get in the
mood for the derby
with Besiktas

Either everything is perfect or it is terrible”

Fenerbahce coach Vitor Pereira on Turkish passion for football

Pressure...Fenerbahce
fans demonstrate in
support of president
Aziz Yildrim

€45million compensation from UEFA. But
before the case could come before sport’s
supreme court, UEFA flew to Istanbul for
its annual congress. President Michel
Platini suggested to Erdogan that the
domestic stand-off was an embarrassment
for European football and did the image
of the Turkish game no favours at an
increasingly delicate time, politically.

Suddenly, Fenerbahce withdrew its
CAS appeal amid reports that the TFF
would cough up most of the €45m.
Simultaneously, an internal TFF report
effectively cleared the club of wrongdoing.

Fenerbahce supporters claimed the
case had been manipulated by political
and commercial rivals of both Yildirim
and the club itself, while Yildirim insisted
the match-fixing case was a politically
motivated plot hatched by followers of
the influential United States-based Islamic
scholar Fethullah Gulen. Prosecutors
countered that the case arose as a
consequence of investigations prompted
by the Bochum football corruption trial
in Germany.

On a wider sports scale, the scandal
and confusion cast a fatal pall across
Istanbul's bid to win hosting rights for the
2020 Olympic Games and/or the finals of
that year’s European Championship. The
Olympics would be awarded to Tokyo,
while Platini devised his pan-continental
Euro 2020 plan as a reaction to the lack
of a trusted candidate.

40 WORLD SOCCER

TURKEY

Conflict with coach...Robin Van Persie

After a year in prison, Yildirim was freed
in 2012 pending a retrial. Meanwhile, the
hated "Special Court" system under which
he had been convicted was scrapped.

In October 2015, he and his fellow
defendants were cleared of all charges.

Not that this is the end of the matter.
Fenerbahce are still considering a lawsuit
against UEFA and Platini for damages.
Anger towards Platini was raised to fever
pitch by the Swiss justice authorities'
investigation of UEFA’s president for
accepting the now-infamous “disloyal
payment" from FIFA authorised by Sepp
Blatter on the basis of a verbal contract.

The heat generated by football in Turkey
has come as a shock to Fenerbahce's
Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira. Coping
with language problems on the training

pitch was one problem, but greater than
that was the passion-driven impatience.

“I always thought that in Portugal we
were very emotional," says Pereira. “But
when I came to Turkey, I found that they
are even more emotional and passionate
about football than us. Either everything is
perfect or it is terrible.

“In Portugal we play our football with
50 per cent heart and 50 per cent head.
But here, it's 80 per cent heart and only
about 20 per cent tactical stuff. This
means that sometimes in defence we lose
our balance because, under pressure, the
players forget all our tactical planning.
Fenerbahce have made a huge investment
in new players but it takes time to cook
the food to get the taste I want. We have
too many national-team breaks when all
our players go away for a week.

“I want us to play a passing game,
dominating possession, but I haven't been
able to build the team I want as quickly as
I want - and we haven't been providing the
results and level of performance the fans
want. Time is short and we always need
results. I came with a two-year project in
my mind but here, for the fans, the project
is only the next game"

That demand for instant success led
to tension between Pereira and Robin
Van Persie. The Dutchman arrived from
Manchester United to a hero's welcome in
the summer, but the fitness issues which
dogged his last season at Old Trafford have

THE BIG

3

GALATASARAY
Founded: 1905
League champions
20 (record)
Turkish Cup winners
16 (record)
UEFA Cup winners
2000

UEFA Super Cup
winners
2000

Stadium: Turk
Telecom Arena
(52,652)

FENERBAHCE

Founded: 1907
League champions
19

Turkish Cup winners

6

Stadium: Sukru
Saracoglu (53,715)

-H*

BESIKTAS
Founded: 1903
League champions

13

Turkish Cup winners

9

Stadium: Vodafone
Arena (41,903)

followed him to Turkey, with he and Pereira
disagreeing over how and when he should
be used, creating more negative headlines.

“No one likes to be on the bench,
especially when, even if you are 30 or 31
or 32 or 33, you still have your ambition,"
said Pereira. “So I prefer a player to be
angry. Sometimes conflict between players
and the coach is a problem but often it's a
good sign. Football is competitive. You
have to try to prove every day to the coach
that you are the best player^’

Like Pereira at Fener, Flamza
Flamzaoglu of Galatasaray and Besiktas'
Senol Gunes will be judged by their results
in the derby games and then - if they
make it that far - where their clubs stand
at the end of the season.

Patience does not come into it, and
Pereira's eyes were opened by his first
few days in Istanbul after arriving from
a double-winning success in Greece
with Olympiakos.

“The first week was incredible," said the
47-year-old. “I couldn't walk down the
street. When the people here like a coach
or a player it's amazing. Flere they have
football in the blood. When they are born,
when they are babes in arms, it's already
there. It’s wonderful but it also creates
problems because the passion is all
about the next game. Then the next,
then the next..."

And, for a coach,
the next job. WS

BESIKTAS

2km I

FENERBAHCE

WORLD SOCCER 41

Tom Kundert reports from Lisbon

■ PORTUGAL

Jesus triumphs
on return to
Estadio da Luz

Sporting coach humiliates his former club
Benfica in Lisbon’s ‘eternal derby’

Sporting's magnificent trio of home-grown
talents William Carvalho, Adrien Silva and
Joao Mario.

“If you'd have asked me before the
game if we'd win 3-0 I'd have said no, but
if you'd have asked me if we'd win I would
have said yes,'' was one of Jesus's more
modest comments in the post-match
press conference.

Never needing encouragement to blow
his own trumpet and belittle his
opponents, the 61-year-old did not fail to
fire a trademark barb at his opposite

A more categorical triumph was
impossible to imagine. On October 25,
Sporting made the short three-mile trip to
neighbours Benfica and swept to victory in
one of the most keenly anticipated Lisbon
derbies in decades.

The 3-0 winning margin was an
accurate reflection of the difference
between the two sides. It was Sporting's
first Primeira Liga win at their rival's home
since 2006 and their biggest margin of
victory there since the 1947-48 season.

For Benfica, the notion that history was
being made in a negative sense only
added to the sense of despair, and an
increasing certainty on a rainy Sunday
afternoon for the vast majority of the
65,000 crowd: the club's decision to let
coach Jorge Jesus go, and above all to
their bitter local rivals, was a blunder of
catastrophic proportions.

The lead-up to the game had inevitably
centred on Jesus, the controversial and
charismatic coach who had crossed the
great divide after six success-strewn years
at Benfica. It had also involved mudslinging

The bad blood between the clubs is
unlikely to be cleansed any time soon, but
on the pitch there was only one winner.

From the moment Teofilo Gutierrez
pounced to give Sporting the lead in the
9th minute, the visiting side exuded total
dominance. A brilliant Islam Slimani
header and a Bryan Ruiz goal made it 3-0
after only 36 minutes. No further goals
were added, yet the Lions' second-half
performance was just as impressive,
completely controlling proceedings against
a listless Benfica unable to cope with the
midfield stranglehold exercised by

of the highest order. Sporting's
irascible president Bruno de Carvalho
had launched a tirade of daily attacks
against Benfica in the media, accusing
them of routinely attempting to bribe
referees by offering them a generous array
of gifts before matches.

The Eagles responded by announcing
they were suing Jorge Jesus for €14 million
for starting work at Sporting while still
under contract at Benfica, and for taking
confidential software with him when
switching from the Luz to the Alvalade.

Derby success...Sporting boss Jorge Jesus

42 WORLD SOCCER

number Rui Vitoria. “If I wanted I could
make Rui Vitoria this small," said JJ, putting
his thumb and index finger close together,
“but I won’t out of respect" It would have
been difficult to utter a more disrespectful
comment.

But like compatriot Jose Mourinho,

Jorge Jesus has earned the right, certainly
in the domestic context, to get away with a
gargantuan level of arrogance. “I am used
to having great moments here [at the Luz]"
That is an irrefutable fact. In six years as
Benfica coach Jesus did not lose a single

Early strike...Teofilo
Gutierrez scores
Sporting's first goal

one of his 92 Liga games played in his
home stadium, and his side failed to score
in only one of them.

Jesus appears to have taken the magic
with him to the club he represented in his
playing days. The derby victory put
Sporting two points clear of 2nd-placed
Porto at the top of the table.

Sporting president Carvalho firmly
believes his new coach is another ‘special
one! 'Jose Mourinho is a wonderful coach.
Jorge is an amazing coach. Like Messi
and Ronaldo, they are the greatest,"

he told BBC prior to the match.

Jesus’s track record in what is known in
Portugal as the eternal derby is beyond
reproach. As Benfica coach, Jesus had won
10, drawn four and lost just one of 15
matches between the two sides. Since
switching to the green half of the city, he
has won two out of two.

“The message I passed to my players is
that beating Benfica has to become a
normal occurrence," said Jesus. With him
at the helm, there is surely every chance
of that happening.

WORLD SOCCER 43

Striking
sensations

John Holmesdale profiles Europe’s most in-form forwards

Pierre-Emerick

AUBAMEYANG

BORUSSIA DORTMUND

When the extremely self-confident Borussia Dortmund
striker went public in the summer with his intention to score
at least 20 goals in the Bundesliga this term, the reaction
of many in Germany was that he was putting too much
pressure on himself. But after scoring 13 in his first 10
starts, it's beginning to look as if he was being too cautious.

No other Dortmund player has ever netted so many
times at the start of a domestic season, and as proved by
back-to-back hat-tricks against Augsburg in the
Bundesliga and the Azerbaijanis of Qabala in the Europa
League, he is not easily satisfied.

Once pigeonholed as a rather lightweight speed
merchant, albeit with an eye for goal, the Gabon
international has developed a more rounded and effective
game since quitting Ligue 1 Saint-Etienne in 2013 for
Dortmund. Under the considerable influence of Jurgen
Klopp, he added strength, awareness and consistency to his
repertoire, while the decision last year to switch him from
a wide role to central striker has proved a masterstroke.

Although his father is the former professional Pierre
Aubameyang, who played in Erance for Laval and Le
Havre in the 1980s, he has inherited none of his dad's
selfless defensive prowess. Instead, Aubameyang has
turned out to be a sleek and exciting goal machine.

44 WORLD SOCCER

6 OF THE BEST

WORLD SOCCER 45

6 OF THE BEST

2

SHAKHTAR DONETSK

Versatility is king for Brazilian attacker Alex Teixeira. The
25-year-old has been European football's top scorer this
autumn, recording 18 goals in 12 games as Shakhtar
matched their rivals Dynamo Kiev at the top of the
Ukrainian league despite selling key players last summer
Shakhtar have used Alex Teixeira in a number of
different roles since signing him in 2009 after seeing him
in action for Vasca da Gama in the Dubai Cup friendly
tournament. In 2013, after Fernandinho had been sold to
Manchester City, Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu
deployed Alex Teixeira in a more defensive role, where he
flourished. Then last season, he was moved to a more

attacking role and the goals have flowed ever since.

The need for Alex Teixeira to fill Shakhtar's attacking
void became all the more acute last summer, when
winger Douglas Costa was sold to Bayern Munich and
striker Luiz Adriano joined Milan.

Alex Teixeira won the Silver Ball as the second best
player of the 2009 Under-20 World Cup (behind
Dominic Adiyiah of Ghana) but he has yet to convince
Brazil coach Carlos Dunga, who has been slow to call up
players from the Ukrainian League. This, and the political
situation in Ukraine, may accelerate a move to England,
where Chelsea have been heavily linked.

46 WORLD SOCCER

Striking sensations

3

Michy

BATSHUAYI

MARSEILLE

Nine goals in his first 14 games of this season for Marseille
have catapulted Belgian striker Michy Batshuayi to the top
of the Ligue 1 scoring charts and led to the inevitable
speculation that big-spending English clubs may swoop for
him. A teenage tearaway at Anderlecht, who struggled to
handle his wayward tendencies, he kick-started his career
at Standard Liege. In summer 2014, he moved on to
Marseille where his all-round striking qualities - tall and
strong with a good touch and sharp finishing - have led to
comparisons with national team-mate Romelu Lukaku.

Batshuayi was said to have been unsettled by the
departure in early August of Marseille coach Marcelo
Bielsa, who had given the young Belgian the chance to
shine in Ligue 1. However, the summer transfers of
Andre-Pierre Gignac (to Mexico) and Andre Ayew (to
Swansea) opened up first-team opportunities which he
has seized.

Batshuayi has won plenty of friends in Provence after
using social media to track down a Marseille fan who
displayed a sign during a game appealing for his signed
shirt. But his long-term future may lie away from the
Stade Velodrome.

NOLITO

CELTAVIGO

On target...Nolito
celebrates his goal
against Barceiona

Celta Vigo's late-blooming striker is living proof that
perseverance pays off. The Andalusian made his way
through local clubs Sanluqueno and Ecija in the Spanish
third tier before, aged 22, joining Barcelona B, where
Luis Enrique was learning the coaching ropes.

The left-sided
forward thrived under
Luis Enrique's tutelage
before a switch to
Benfica in 2011. After
a bright start he spent
the second half of the
2012-13 season on
loan at Granada. A
move to Celta in 2013
reunited him with Luis
Enrique and his
career caught fire.
Nolito's goals helped
turn Celta from
relegation candidates
into a highly

respectable ninth-place finish and he made his senior
Spain debut in November 2014, aged 28.

This season he scored a memorable goal in a 4-1
victory over former club Barcelona. Seven goals in his
first nine appearances of 2015-16 has raised the
possibility of another hook-up with Luis Enrique in
January when Barca's transfer market ban ends.

Nolito has already rejected a possible move to
England - "It's cold, it rains a lot, and the food's bad...
Besides, what do I need more money for? All greed does
is rip the bag" - and he is on record as expressing his
admiration for Luis Enrique: "We were together for four
years and I've said many times he was a key coach in
my career!'

WORLD SOCCER 47

6 OF THE BEST

Dirk KUYT

FEYENOORD

At the unlikely age of 35, Dirk Kuyt is enjoying an
Indian summer back at Feyenoord, the club where he
made his name as a bustling, hard-running striker,
after leaving Turkey's Fenerbahce last summer
Kuyt retired from international football after
helping Fiolland to third place at the 2014 World
Cup, where he was deployed in the unusual position
of wing-back by Louis Van Gaal. But he has
rediscovered his scoring touch at Feyenoord,
recording back-to-back hat-tricks, against
Fleerenveen and AZ, to help Feyenoord under new
coach Giovanni Van Bronckhorst challenge
champions PSV for top spot in the Dutch league.

Van Bronckhorst made his former team-mate
captain and had been rewarded with 10 goals by the
end of October

Kuyt has even been linked with an unlikely
short-term move to Barcelona in January Such a
move might sound fanciful, but the Catalans have
form in this department, having signed the veteran
Flenrik Larsson as a stop-gap on a one-year deal
from Celtic in 2004.

Kuyt's down-to-earth demeanour and hard
grafting playing style has made him a popular figure
among Feyenoord fans. But even they would not
begrudge him one last shot at European glory.

Final flourish
...Kuyt

48 WORLD SOCCER

Striking sensations

Jamie VARDY

LEICESTER CITY

Jamie Vardy is living proof that Premier League
academies and elite development schemes can count for
little. Three years after playing non-league football, the
Premier League's top scorer is in contention to represent
England at Euro 2016.

Released by Sheffield Wednesday aged 16, he
dropped into non-league while working in a local factory.
His teenage years were not without problems. He was
electronically tagged after a pub brawl and his club,
Stocksbridge Park Steels in English football's eighth tier,
often had to sub him early during away games to ensure
he was home in time to meet his curfew.

England call-up... Vardy

His talent quickly saw him work his way through the
divisions, from Halifax Town (sixth tier) to Fleetwood
Town (fifth tier), before Leicester, igonoring the poor
disciplinary record that had deterred others, paid
Fleetwood £1 m, a record for a non-league player.

His goals helped Leicester to promotion in 2014. His
pace, ferocious work-rate and occasionally fiery attitude
have troubled Premier League defences ever since.

"I watched him when he was still at Fleetwood and
players who have that pace and desire to run in behind
defenders are always interesting” says Roy Hodgson,
who handed Vardy an England debut in June 2015.

WORLD SOCCER 49

Facetoface

IVAN RAKITIC

^Tou have to enjoy it
because there's nothing
bigger than this"

Since joining Barcelona last year, the 27-year-old
Croatian midfielder has been a key performer

You won the Europe League
as captain of Sevilla and
were named man of the
match in the Final. You
joined Barcelona, leaving
Sevilla the right way, with the blessing of
the club and the fans, who welcomed you
back with a banner saying: "Captain, this
will always be your home.” You won the
treble with Barca, scoring the opening
goal in the Champions League Final. Then
came the UEFA Super Cup against your
former club, which you won 5-4. Now
you're expecting your second child, which
you announced in the week in which you
scored twice in the Champions League.

And there's the Club World Cup to come.
All of that in 18 months. Oh, and then
there was your wedding too...to the girl
you met on your first-ever night in Spain.
Who writes your scripts?

Someone good! I’m not a person who waits
for things to happen. I always try to seize
the opportunities I get and thankfully I have
someone at my side who looks after me. I live
for football, I do everything humanly possible

- and impossible - to achieve. I don't like to
call it a job, but I do work at it. I am very, very
happy and proud. I'm here to enjoy myself.

If you are at Barcelona you have to. In this
profession we get to do what we most like
doing, and to be able to do that at the biggest
club in the world is wonderful. I come into
work with a smile and I go home with a smile.
My philosophy is take full advantage, enjoy it,
because there are a lot of players who would
like to be here. It’s important to get the most
from your career because it can end any time

- you can twist your ankle coming downstairs
and you can't play any more. There's nothing
lovelier than enjoying playing and winning. When
you do that you want to do it again and again.

50 WORLD SOCCER

You talk about seizing every moment,
about ambition and desire. But your career
has also been marked by a steady
progression: from Basle to Schalke,

Schalke to Sevilla, and then to Barcelona.
Do you think it was better that you didn't
make the leap to a really big club very
early in your career?

Some players will have gone straight to a huge
club and it will have worked fine for them.
When I was 16 I had an offer to go to Chelsea
and another one from Juventus, but I didn't
want to go. I thought it better to develop first at
Basle. There's the excitement of going to a big
club, but at the time my ambition was to play
in the first team at Basle. Then came Schalke,
Sevilla, Barcelona. Maybe that was what I
needed; to learn from different clubs, different
ideas and personalities. I've taken something
from them all: errors I made, lessons I learnt.

If you could take one thing from the four
clubs you have been at, what would it be?

Every club has its identity, those touches that
make it special. From Barcelona, I'd take the
enormity of it, the greatness, what it is. From
Schalke, I'd take the organisation, the way that
every detail is covered. From Sevilla, the fire,
the love, the ilusion. And from Basle, the
sincerity, the humility and honesty that they
show in the way they work every day. If I could
put all that together, it would be perfect.

There's a Spanish phrase that says "the
train only comes through the station once”
and you have to get on then. But your case
shows that you don't, that the train will
come through again...

I wanted to go bit by bit. I was a Basle fan and
my ambition was to make it to the first team, to
play, and then we'll see. I had a Swiss under-16
team-mate, Jonas Elmer, who went to Chelsea

at that same time and he's now playing in the
second or third division in Switzerland. If he
had stayed, maybe... Every player has to trust
in themselves. It's easy to say afterwards, of
course. I'm not saying I did the right thing, or
that he didn't, but what I did was what I felt,
what I believed in. Everything happens for a
reason, good or bad. You can say "yeah. I'm
playing for a big club but I'm not comfortable.

I'm not happy". I had to decide for myself. I
spoke to my family but I didn't really want to
listen to them. Your dad can say "Ivan, do this"
or your brother can say "Ivan, do that". I listen,
but the decision is mine. When I need advice
or help I will ask for it. I had to be strong
enough, free enough, to make that decision
alone and in the end if it is a mistake, let it be
my mistake. The decision can be good or bad,
but it is mine. And I will follow it through.

It must have been hard to turn down clubs
like Chelsea and Juventus at 16, though.

Not least as you don't know that you'll
make it as a professional and the money
must have been very attractive...

I always had the idea that if I make it, the
money will follow anyway. Maybe that money
would have helped me then, but maybe not
in the long run. When you’re 16 you still don't
know what the future holds but I thought, "I'm
happy here, I know everyone, the club, the
president". That gave me confidence. I wasn't
thinking that when I'm 26 I will be playing for
Barcelona, but I was thinking that I wanted to
take that first step, make it the right one, and
then things would follow from there. I didn't
want to leap three steps forward only to slip
back five. I'd rather take one step.

Sometimes it's best not to get ahead of
yourself...

I remember a coach I had at under-16 level
called Werner Mogg. Basle wanted me to go
up an age group, to the under-18s, to play with
older kids. He said: "Ivan, stay here with me.

You’ll be captain, you'll be the most important >

As a midfielder?

Yes, as a central midfielder. I was captain, we
won every title. I came out of it better. That was
also when I really shot up. I had always been
the smallest, I wasn't very quick - that’s still
the case! - but then I really started growing.

My back and knees started to hurt. Suddenly,

I was the tallest, one of the strongest.

Size matters?

At that age, a little is a lot. If you’re a bit taller,
a bitter stronger, a bit faster, it makes a big
difference. You see some countries where kids
have their growth spurts earlier and they’re
really strong at under-15 or under-16 level,
but that doesn’t carry through to senior level.
There are kids with talent, but that have not
yet developed physically and it’s harder for
them at first. We had a centre-forward who
was three times as big as me, much stronger,
much faster, and he was very important. But
when the rest of us started to catch him up
physically, he wasn’t the same any more.

Is it scary to suddenly shoot up, to find
your back hurts and your knees ache?

No. It excited me, it made me think, Ivan,
you’re growing, you’re becoming a man.

You were called up to the first team soon
afterwards...

52 WORLD SOCCER

Early look...teenage Rakitic (centre) in action for Basle

And at Sevilla?

In the first two or three months at Sevilla I
understood better all those foreigners who had
arrived at Schalke. They were looking at me
with a face that said, what’s that idiot trying
to say? And right there and then I completely
changed the way I looked at those players
who had been with me at Schalke. We had
a Chinese player, a Japanese player, Spanish
players, and when I was there I didn’t realise
how difficult it makes life when you can’t
communicate with other people. When I got
to Spain and couldn’t speak a word I saw that.

I told myself, it doesn't matter what it takes,
you’re going to learn Spanish. Language is a
gift. It’s not just necessary so that you can play
football - “go left, go right’’, whatever - it’s
more about building a group in the dressing
room. If you can’t talk together, it’s hard. I
tried everything. I watched the television, the
radio, anything and everything. I had Ivica
Dragutinovic translate things for me, but we
spoke in Spanish as much as we could. If you

player in the team, you’ll develop and get
stronger, you’ll grow physically, you’ll learn a
lot. And then, when you do get promoted, you’ll
be ready for it. Don’t go too early!’ That idea
stayed with me. He was right. It was better to
stay with the kids that were my age. That year I
exploded. I think I scored 48 goals in 17 games.

Did senior players see you as a threat?

You’ll probably have to ask them! I understand
hierarchy and I went in there with respect, but
of course I knew that I was there to compete.

I wanted to play, we all did. It wasn’t easy,
but I wasn’t going to throw in the towel. I
trusted myself. I was lucky too. At every club
I’ve had someone who looked after me. When
I started it was M laden Petrie. He acted like a
big brother, showing me things, teaching me,
helping me, defending me when he needed
to. He’d also tell me if I did things wrong. He
looked after me. At Schalke, there was Mladen
Krstajic. It’s important to have someone who
backs you. And because I went through that
I try to be close to the younger players now,
particularly in the national team. At Barcelona,
it’s different. When you arrive it’s because
you’re a player who is made, consolidated.

Christian Gross was really important, he took
me on pre-season with the first team at 16. It
was like a reward; a chance to see how they
work, see them close up. It was an education.

It was very different, in everything. Both for
good and bad. There’s more character, more
egotism, it’s more serious. If you lose a game
with the under-21s it doesn’t matter. If you lose
with the first team, it affects everything. There
are other things too. If you’re a youth-teamer
and you go out to a disco, people say it’s
normal, he’s a young kid. When you’re in the
first team you must be careful. If you fancy
a McDonald’s, you have to know how to look
after yourself. If you don’t, who will? The coach
can't be constantly saying, “Ivan no, Ivan don't
do that, Ivan do this’’. You need self-control. If
you don’t have it, it’s impossible.

Facetoiface

IVAN RAKITIC

make the effort they appreciate that
The football stuff is easy enough, but
the experience is much better if you
can communicate.

You had an ulterior motive to learn
Spanish, too...

Yes. I met Raquel, my wife-to-be on my first
day in Seville. I wanted to get to know her any
way I could, so I had to learn the language. I
arrived and the sporting director was waiting
for me at the airport. It was 10pm and we went
for dinner and then I went to the club hotel
near the Pizjuan. I had the medical the next
day and after that I'd meet the president. I was
nervous and I couldn't sleep so I went to the
hotel bar for a coffee with my brother. A coffee
at midnight. That was hardly going to help! And
the woman who is now my wife was serving.
She brought me my coffee. There were still
four days left of the transfer window, a lot of
clubs calling. Another team called and were
prepared to lay on a private plane for me to
go and sign for them and I said to my brother:
“No, I've given my word to the Sevilla president.
I'm going to sign the contract tomorrow...and
I'm going to marry that waitress!'

Did you tell her that?

Later, I did. I was staying at the hotel for almost
three months. I would go for a coffee every
day. “Un cafe con leche y una Fanta naranja,
porfavoF! I think that's all I ordered because
it was all I could say. I asked her out but she
would always say: “I can't, I have to work!' In
August, finally, she went out with me. We had
dinner and we've been together ever since.
Now we have a daughter and we're expecting
our second child. Pure George Clooney, haha!

If they do make a Hollywood film of it then he
can play me. Clooney or Ben Affleck.

Now your Spanish is perfect, spoken with
a Sevillano accent in fact...

In three months, I was talking to people. I think
it was worth the effort. They speak differently
there too. Talking to Jesus Navas or Juan Cala
was impossible. I had learnt it one way and
then they would be saying it another. "Why's
he saying it like that?'' But you end up even
picking up a bit of their accent. That humour
and openness they have in Seville makes it
easier. If people don't want to talk to you,
it is much more difficult. I enjoyed learning
as people were very open. I thought, this is
perfect. You know someone for one day in
Seville and it is like you have known them all
your life. Just for the experience it was worth
it. And if on top of that the football goes well...

You even had a bar there didn't you?

Yes, but it closed down. We had it for six

months, we had a few problems. It was near
the Betis ground...

I see...

No, no, it was nothing serious. It was a
neighbourhood with lots of young people, a
lovely part of the city where there's lots of life
and the usual difficulties that brings. About that
time, my wife got pregnant too so we left it.

The Seville rivalry is one of the most
passionate in the world...

Yes, but it's a very positive rivalry. Of course
there are always people who can't bear the
sight of their rivals, but it was mostly lived with
that character and humour that defines people
there. You can be playing Levante and it
doesn't matter, people are already thinking
about the derby a month before. You go to the
petrol station and the bloke's a betico and he
wants to stick diesel in instead of petrol. I have
always got on well with the beticos, who are
part of the nicest rivalry there is in the world,
one that's unique. It's great to see them back
in the first division. When we beat them in the
Europa League - look...the hair's standing up
on my arm just talking about it.

What about Germany and the Real Madrid
V Barca clasico?

Schalke-Dortmund is big. They told me the
first day: "Other games don't matter. If you
score and we beat Dortmund, we'll carry you
out of here on our shoulders!' That was the
first day. The clasico? I'm a football fan, not just
a football player, so the chance to play in the
biggest game in the world is very special.

When the clasico is on, the lights go out and
no one is on the streets. But it's different to
those other rivalries: there's 600km between
the two cities. They're the biggest two clubs in
the world, certainly in the top five, and the
level is so high. That's what sets it apart.

Has the size and reach of Barcelona
surprised you?

You go to Belarus, say, and there are people
outside the hotel. You set foot outside and
they go mad. You have to enjoy it because
there's nothing bigger than this. I got to the
training ground this morning and there were
kids there, excited, waiting for us.. And I think
back to when I was 13 and I did much the
same. Recently, I saw [former Basle striker]

Gaetano Giallanza here in Barcelona. He's an
agent now, looking after a friend in the national
team and he asked me for a shirt. And I said to
him: "I was ballboy for you!' That's an
illustration of the journey.

But it brings pressure with it, doesn't
it? Would you want your children to grow
up to be footballers?

My daughter's not going to be a footballer;
she'll do anything that allows her to be near
to her parents, whatever it is, haha. All that
can be demanding, sure, but it's part of
football. To get here, you have to leave a lot
by the way; if not, you won't get here. You have

WORLD SOCCER 53

Farewell...with Xavi,
who played his last
game for Barcelona
in the Champions
League Final

to enjoy it, if that's the word. When you retire,
you'll miss it. Your family is there too; there are
days when things don't go the way that you
want and you need them then, to lift you up.

What are you like after a defeat?

I live it a lot. I kind of retreat into myself if
we lose. You could be talking to me and
I'm looking at you, sure, maybe even sort of
listening to you, but I don't hear you. I don't
respond. When I get home, they know if they
have to encourage me, or lift me. Anyway, as
soon as my daughter comes up to me, that's
it. “Papa, Papa..!' and I think: “Oh, was there a
game? Did I lose? Did I play?'' But yes, I watch
games back, I analyse the key moments, I go
over it, I talk to my wife about it.

Javier Mascherano once said that he had
to relearn how to play football when he
joined Barcelona. Was that your
experience too?

It's true that Barcelona have a very clear idea
of how to play that has been established over
many years and also that every coach puts his
own touch on it. If you play the Barca system
at Sevilla it's not going to be the same because
the players and coach are different. The
biggest difference here is that you dominate
every game. You always have to take the game
to the opposition, you carry the weight, you
always have to win. But the way we bring the
ball out from the back here, for example, is
similar to the way it was done at Sevilla. What's
different is the quality and the intensity. That's
why it's the biggest club in the world.

Was replacing Xavi a weight on your
shoulders?

Not a weight, no. I wanted to make the most of
the time I had playing alongside the greatest
midfielder that we have had. Working with him
and learning from him was perfect and I'm
grateful to him for that year not only because
of what you learn on the pitch but also in
the dressing room - being respectful, being
humble, how to deal with the press, how to
work with the physios, how to prepare for
games. When you arrive you watch how things
are done. And to be able to have that year with
him still here was important. I don't think there
will be anyone like Xavi again, but it wasn't a

Facetoface

IVAN RAKITIC

weight, it was an opportunity. But I also wanted
to be me: I'm Ivan Rakitic and I wanted to give
what I can offer too: my ability. I wanted to
learn but also put my stamp on things.

You were captain at Sevilla. Are you
among the leaders at Barcelona, too?

Are you a voice that's heard in the
dressing room?

I understand hierarchy. I know there are people
here who have been at the club a long time. I
understand that when you arrive you have to
see, observe and understand what the club
means. When it's right to talk then I have the
character to give my opinion, but I accept and
understand the hierarchy and understand that
you have to go bit by bit. My character doesn't
change. I'm a relaxed guy but also very open
to helping others, especially new players. You
have to wait your turn, respect that.

At the start of the season there was a vote
to decide the fourth captain, which was
won by Mascherano. Could you have voted
for yourself?

Ha ha. I don't know. I didn't, but maybe you
can. Everyone has a piece of paper and you
write the name on it. Three were already
decided [Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio
Busquets], but we have enough leaders that
we could have gone on voting for the fifth,
sixth, seventh captain. It's not necessary
because we have four who are going to defend
the interests of the dressing room. We have
total trust in them. The club has plenty of
players who have spent their whole lives here
and you don't have to be a captain to be able
to help and support the team.

What's it like playing behind Messi,

Neymar and Luis Suarez?

We have the best forward line in the world. A
lot of the time people say: “Ah, how great that
you have those three up front, they make
things easy!' But it is not always like that. They
have won the right for the team to have to play
for them of course but that doesn't make it

easier. Everything you see them do during
matches you need to multiply by I don't know
how many for all the times they do the same
in training: the quality they have is unique and
that is why they are what they are. Leo is not
just the best player around at the moment,
he's the best player in history. We may never
see another player of this quality. And Ney, and
Luis...they're the best. Having those players
conditions the way we play and influences
what you have to do; you work towards them.
We press high, trying to win the ball back
20metres from the opposition goal instead of
50m, so that there are just one or two players
between them and the goal, not five. We play
to them, which is fine - if we have to run
5,000m or 10,000m for them then we'll do it.
It's worth it. If I can help them to play a little
better, perfect.

And if you can win the treble and score in
the Champions League Final, then so much
the better. Was that the best moment of
your career so far?

Well, there are lots of moments, but to score
in the European Cup Final, with your family
there, is very special. There are no words to
express it. You feel like hugging everyone. You
feel like picking up the ball and taking it away,
thinking “This is for me!' It's unique, you savour
it but you always want more. You want to
experience it again.

That success now means you have the Club
World Cup in December. How seriously are
you taking that? Sometimes it can feel like
a drain on resources and energy as much
as anything else...

I'm going to Japan with real excitement as I
have never been there. It's a unique, different
title. It's special to be able to play against the
champions from the other confederations. So
the journey is not comfortable? Maybe. But
to be able to say “I'm a world
champion'', it's worth putting up with
whatever you have to put up with.

Interview by Sid Lowe

54 WORLD SOCCER

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Facetoface

CRISTIANO RONALDO

dream is to finish
my career here in Madrid’^

In October, the 30-year-old Portugal and Real Madrid
striker received his fourth ESM Golden Shoe after
finishing as Europe’s top league goalscorer in 2014-15

After winning so many
individual trophies, what
does this award mean to you?

The most important job for a
forward is to score goals - and to be the best
goalscorer four times is an honour for me and
something special. I consider it very important.
And I love it because it's something you work
for and at the end you reap the rewards. Let's
hope I can keep up this streak.

Did you ever imagine, when you started
out, that you would be a four-time Golden
Shoe winner?

No, of course not. I thought maybe I could win
one or two, but not four. But sometimes there
is a sequence of events that push you towards
an objective. In this last one, for example, I
began to score a lot in the first few games and
thought: “OK, I'm playing very well and I'm
going to continue to do so!' I didn't start saying
I would win it either, but everything ends up
taking over. You see people talk about the
trophy and you motivate yourself.

Has the Cristiano Ronaldo at the start of
his career changed a lot from the one that
is here now?

He's different. I'm more of a box player, not so
much a winger. Because goals are made inside
the box and close to the goal, my position has
changed a bit. The instinct for goal, as well,
that's something you learn with experience. It's
something that has come to me more naturally
and that makes me happy. You can see the
evolution that I've had throughout my career
- since I began until today - and that is good
for me. I've been evolving.

What's left for you to do at Real Madrid?
Do you see yourself retiring at Real?

I want to keep winning. I still feel good, I feel
young. I am 30 years old and I want to keep
playing for five or six more. And in those years
I want to do things well and maintain the level

I've had the last few seasons. I know that it's
gradually more difficult, but in my head it's
possible. I want to win and I'm at the best club
in the world. I have a contract until I'm 33 and,
like I've said many times, my dream is to finish
here at Real Madrid because I feel good and
useful here. I want to keep going.

What rivals do you see for the next Golden
Shoe? Do you think Lionel Messi has lost
ground because of his injury?

There are many great forwards throughout
many European leagues; in the English league,
German...Rooney, Aguero, Lewandowski,
Neymar. Benzema is also in good form. Luis
Suarez again. There are many great players -
but I want to keep winning it, though. We'll see
what happens throughout this year.

Does it get tougher to maintain this level
of sacrifice, work and fitness?

At the moment I don't feel a difference from
when I was 25 years old. Many people say that
after 30 you start going down, but I don't have
that mentality because if you take care of
yourself, work out, practise and do things right,
you don't feel those sudden effects. It's like
age, you don't get older from one day to
another, it's something that comes slowly. And
in a footballer's life it's a bit like that. If you
take care of yourself, and do things right, you
can keep going until 40. 1 have the motivation
and the desire to keep going.

What does a professional do to take
care of themselves even after winning
everything at club level?

Everything is motivation and is just the way
I am. As long as I'm motivated to play, I will
take care of myself and train to the max in
order to give the best I have. The passion I
have guarantees that I'll have a good future.
And I hope to maintain my level year after
year because that it the most difficult part,
maintaining yourself every year.

Are there things you can still improve on?

In everything. I don't look at just one thing, but
in general. I try to be better every time...play,
train, recover - which is very important - and
I always want to go beyond in everything.

And what facets of the game in particular?

Headers, positioning, free-kicks...we should
never think we know it all. If you have that
mentality you'll never improve and you'll
stagnate. I always work, thinking I can improve
more and more.

Is Madrid a key part in this entire
adventure? You've achieved your best
numbers in the white shirt...

Since I arrived I needed to think big because
Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world. It's
a nice moment in my sporting life. Winning the
fourth Golden Shoe is an honour and a huge
privilege. I want to thank everyone who came
here: the Portuguese ambassador, my coach,
my president, the institution that is Real
Madrid, the fans...

Have your team-mates also been essential
throughout these years?

Of course. Without them I wouldn't have the
opportunity of winning this. And the physios
and to everyone who helps me stay fit
throughout the year and always work for
my good and the good of Real Madrid.

What are your objectives this season?

I'm always looking for more. I want the fifth
Golden Shoe, the sixth...Real Madrid must
always win titles and this year is no different.

We want to win the league, the Champions
League, the cup...

What are your hopes for Portugal at the
Euro finals in the summer?

I'm missing a title with my national team. It
would be the culmination of my career and
I have hope. We have a good coach and an
excellent president. The new generation is
good and it has helped us grow a lot. The
Portuguese clubs have bet on youth
who will have their place in the
national team. We have a great future. ^ ^
Interview by Sid Lowe/ESM

56 WORLD SOCCER

The most important job for a forward is to
score goals - and to be the best goalscorer
four times is an honour for me”

WORLD SOCCER 57

Facetoface

WESLEY SNEIJDER

^There’s a difference
between wanting something
and really, really wanting it^^

The 31-year-old Dutch midfielder on his varied career
and why Holland won’t be in France this summer

How have you found football
in different countries - in
Holland with Ajax, in Spain
with Real Madrid, in Italy
with Internazionale and
now in Turkey with Galatasaray?

In every country it's been a completely
different culture, a completely different sort
of competition. In Spain, the competition is
more technical. When, for example, you play
even Betis or Levante you know they will have
technical players, quality players. Italy was
more like - I don’t want to say catenaccio
- but all about strong defending and with solid
strategy in defence. So I learned a different
part of the job of a footballer when I was
there. Now here, in Turkey, it's more about
emotion, passion. They approach their football
much more with the heart here. Now I can mix
all these experiences together and I feel good
about it. I also feel much better now physically
than I did perhaps two years ago, when I was
in Italy. Of course, the longer you play and the
older you get the more experience you have,
so you know how to give a little more and
when you need to hold a little bit back.

What's your contract situation?

I've just signed to stay two more years with
Galatasaray, so that

tells you I feel happy here. Also my family are
happy here, so there was no reason to leave.
The people here like me and I like the people.

I think we can continue successfully for many
more years.

Failing to qualify for Euro 2016, after
finishing third at the last World Cup; what
has happened to Holland?

It’s hard to say what happened precisely. It’s
not easy to point at just one thing being to
blame; I believe that it’s much bigger than that.

I remember, after the last game we had with
the Czech Republic, how it was when I first
came into the national team a long time ago.

I was just one of the new guys and my father
brought me to the ground, and when I stepped
out of the car I remember feeling it was
something amazing. I was even nervous to
have arrived there because I was a young
player joining a team with all these big stars.

Of course, it’s normal that as time goes on
the quality of the old players is less in evidence
and there is a new generation coming through.
But if this change happens too fast, too
suddenly, then it’s not easy to adapt the team
and the results in a good way. Ideally, you
should always have a balance between the
good and experienced players and the young
players with talent - and at the moment in
Holland there is a big gap between these two
generations. We don’t have enough players
around 25 or 26 who can help. Also, I have
to say that I have played in many tournaments
and I always have tried to tell the new young
players: "Listen, this is something amazing, to
be in this tournament with the national football
team!’ But there is a difference between
wanting something... and really, really wanting
it. I miss this feeling a little bit among some of
our new players.

Does Holland have to undergo a big
rebuilding process like that of your
neighbours, Belgium?

Belgium are a very good example. For five or
six years they were right down the rankings
and couldn’t qualify for Euro tournaments or
World Cups. Yet now they have a very strong
team because they have been building all this
time with their own new generation. If you
have 10 or 12 new young players then you may
have a lot of talent but you don’t have a team.
Belgium had that, many good young players

but they had to wait while they built a new
team. It takes years. It doesn’t happen
overnight. Yet now Belgium are number one
in the world. This is what Holland must do. But
we must also understand that it can take two,
three or four years.

Would the transition have been smoother
if Louis Van Gaal had stayed as coach and
not left for Manchester United?

It’s hard to say that it’s always good to have a
change, to refresh things. It was really intense
at the World Cup. People talk about Van Gaal’s
philosophy because you have to commit to it,
you have to go with it, but it does take a lot of
effort from the players. I think it was probably
the right moment to change, both for us as
players and for him as coach. But I don’t feel it
was the major reason for what went wrong.

On the subject of another of your career
coaches, Jose Mourinho: knowing him
from your time at Inter how do you see
his recent problems at Chelsea?

Mourinho is Mourinho. He will always come
back. Everybody can have a difficult period as
a coach or as a player. It seems as if, at
Chelsea now, they are all having this sort of
period together but he will get out of it. I know
it for sure. He is the best manager in Europe
because a coach does not to be only good in
coaching but good as an all-round manager of
all the parts of a team. He always comes up
with a very good strategy for action when it
comes to analysing games and opponents.
Also, on an individual basis, he makes players
improve. Even if you are a good player then he
makes you a better player. When you can only
pick 11 players for the start of a game it is
difficult to keep all the player satisfied but he
always finds a way to support all his players
and give them a good feeling about the work
they are doing. In my career I’ve worked with a
lot of good coaches but he is a
complete guy. He’s the one who
has everything. ^ ^

Interview by Keir Radnedge

WORLD SOCCER 59

Facetoface

LUKAS PODOLSKI

^Tootball has changed
since I started 15 years ago.
Everyone now can play,
run and fight^^

Germany’s 2014 World Cup winner swapped Arsenal
for Galatasaray last summer

Istanbul is very different to
London. How long did it take
you to adapt?

No time. I have always played
in clubs in nice cities and Istanbul is certainly
that. I’ve been here before, for holidays or to
visit friends, and I have a lot of friends back in
Germany who are from Turkey, so I know the
mentality which has made it a little bit easier to
come here. I have won the World Cup, I have a
lot of caps. I've visited a lot of countries and
played in great stadiums with great friends. But
I haven't come here for a holiday; I'm here to
train well and play well and win more titles.

Our season is going well so life is good. The
football is different but then that's natural.

Every league has its own character. Here we
play a lot against teams who defend with 11
players around the penalty box and make it
difficult to score. This is not like England
because in England you have the most
beautiful league. Every game you see everyone
is always fighting and running. The last club in
the league table can beat the first. That is why
it is the most beautiful league there is and why
everyone likes to watch it. You have everything
there; that's why for me it’s the best league
there is.

So why leave Arsenal?

This is a question for the manager. I think I did
well. I had a good record with goals and
assists, but when the manager decides that
other players should play then what can you
do? I was happy at Arsenal, I didn't have any
personal problems with the manager or
anyone there. If I had been the 25th guy in the
squad and I wasn't good enough then OK,

60 WORLD SOCCER

that's different. But I felt comfortable in the
team and with the club and it was
disappointing not to get more chances. I
always played the last five or 10 minutes and
this is not enough. You always want to be on
the pitch at the kick-off. But when you sit on
the bench and feel you could help the team,
that you could score or make an assist, you are
ready to play but don't get a chance... this is
why I changed clubs. I had a few offers and
coming here was the best decision for me. I
hope I will have three or four great years here
and then we'll see what comes next.

Looking ahead to Euro 2016, are you
confident of Germany adding the
European title to the World Cup?

We have some important, good friendly
games, against France, Holland, Italy and
England, and we will prepare like always. We
are always strong in tournaments and we will
fight for the title. Everyone else will make it
difficult. We know that. When you are world
champions you are a target. Everyone wants to
beat you so we have to prepare for that. Also,
football has changed since I started. Everyone
now can play, run and fight. It's not like 15
years ago when you could play against the
smaller teams and win six or seven or eight
zero. Now it's not so easy any more. Like the
defeat we had against Ireland. Even these
smaller teams can take points from you.

What is the answer?

You have to change your own style. We have
done it. We changed, step by step. Then, in
2014, we were ready. Now we are preparing for
2016 and we know we have to change our

style again a bit because teams will think they
know what to expect from us.

After the high of winning the World Cup in
Brazil, how did you adjust to starting the
next season all over again?

I don't change. If I win or lose I always try to be
myself because I always have a lot of fun and
passion from playing football. The World Cup is
the best thing you can win. Nothing else comes
close. It's the best feeling in the world because
you know that only a few players, really, can
win the World Cup. A league title you can win
every year, but with the World Cup you may
have a chance only once in a lifetime. I had
been in the national team for 11 years and we
were always going to the semi-finals, to third
place, to second place - and finally I won. It
was my last chance.

What do you remember of the historic 7-1
win over Brazil in the semi-final in Belo
Horizonte?

I remember, in the first five minutes, saying to
myself: "Oh, Brazil are really ready for us
today!' But then, after our first goal, it was
finished. This was the sort of game you have
once in your life. Everyone wants to talk about
this game. But look at the next game against
Argentina in the Final. They had three 100 per
cent chances. Maybe if [Gonzalo] Higuain had
scored when he had his early chance then the
game would have been over. This is football.
Every game is a new game. One day you beat
Brazil 7-1, the next time you beat Argentina
1-0 with a goal in the last minutes. This is
football. You have to be ready every time. It's
why Germany win; because we are strong as
both a team and with the staff we have around
us. We are together. This is one big
reason why we win because, as a
team, we are ready - from the start.

Interview by Keir Radnedge

A league title you can win every year,
but with the World Cup you may have
a chance only once in a lifetime”

WORLD SOCCER 61

November

1967

European champions Celtic
suffer a shock exit

S cottish club football featured
prominently in the November
1967 edition of World Soccer, with
21-year-old Hibernian midfielder
Peter Cormack, who was later to play a
dominant role at Liverpool, on the cover.

Inside, Roger Macdonald reported
on Celtic's surprise elimination from the
European Cup - a competition they had
won five months earlier by beating
Internazionale in Lisbon.

Tike a Guy Fawkes
rocket, straight up to a
dazzling peak and then
disappearing with a
few sparks, Celtic have
been in and out of the
European Cup," wrote
Macdonald.

“They were beaten,
and well beaten, by
Dynamo Kiev in front
of their own supporters
- a situation which in this
competition is the same
as jumping into your own
coffin and waiting for
someone to nail down

Out...European Cup
holders Celtic fail
in Kiev

WDRU SOCCER

the lid"

In truth, over the two legs of the first-
round tie, Celtic were a shadow of the
team that so triumphantly and elegantly
beat Italian powerhouse Inter in May. They
lost the first leg 2-1 at home and drew 1-1
away in Kiev. The defeat came soon after
they had lost to Rangers, with their
Glasgow neighbours overtaking them
at the top of the Scottish league.

Macdonald continued to dissect Celtic's
performance against the Soviet side,
commenting; "For Celtic, it was a sad
defeat. It was striking, at Parkhead, how
[Tommy] Gemmell would move upfield
with the ball, be absorbed by the Russians
like a piece of blotting paper mopping up
a pool of ink, and find two or more Kiev
forwards racing down the flank he had
benevolently vacated.

"Celtic's covering, by the highest
European standards, was quite lamentable.

I"

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NAIL

CELTIC

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Roger Macdonald . . . World Diary

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“[Losing at home] in this competition is the same
as jumping into your own coffin and waiting for
someone to nail down the lid’’

World Soccer^s Roger Macdonald

r

and they paid the full price.

“Like Tottenham before them, Celtic are
composed of a team of good players, with
a few - Gemmell, [Billy] McNeill, [Jimmy]
Johnstone - on the fringe of greatness,
but all liable to fall back when one man's
loss of form affects the balance"

Despite the win, Macdonald did not see
Kiev as the future European champions. “It
would be unwise to suggest that Dynamo
will go on to win the European Cup simply
because they have deposed the present
holders," he cautioned. “Too much

depends on their coach, Viktor Maslov,
who arrived at Kiev in 1964 and has since
won the Russian Cup twice and the
Russian championship last season.

“Maslov, a taciturn, almost melancholy
individual, successfully diagnosed the
symptoms of Celtic's decline at one match,
against Rangers - and proceeded to kill
the patient with an overdose of rapid
counter-attacks"

However, that was as good as it got for
Kiev, who were knocked out by Gornik
Zabrze of Poland in the next round. W5

62 WORLD SOCCER

FROM THE ARCHIVES

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-^ Also in this issue

no n a profile of West Germany
midfielder Wolfgang Overath, Keir
Radnedge wrote: "The fans don't take
to him because he is not what a star
footballer 'should' be. He has little care
for the artistry of [Franz] Beckenbauer, no
interest in the embellished technique of
[Heinz] Hornig and few leanings towards
the 'bull-at-a-gate' outlook of [Uwe]
Seeler at his most truculent"

rm Arthur Rotmil took a swipe
at the Italian press for their criticism
of the discipline of players in England,
commenting: “News that Leeds United's
captain Billy Bremner has been booked
three times and sent off once, after the
first 23 days of the season, was eagerly
publicised by some Italian soccer writers.
But since they conveniently omitted to
inform their readers that Italy too has
its fair share of 'prima donnas; I would
remind them that [Omar] Sivori leads the
way here having 'collected' 27 days in
suspensions after 267 games.”

m Italian football also came under
scrutiny for its negativity. In a review of
the European leagues, it was noted that
the second week of the Serie A season
produced a total of just 10 goals in eight
games, including three 0-0 draws.

ne{»Bcil Philip Rising took a look at
fallen English giants Blackpool, the team
that in the 1950s possessed the two
Stanleys, Matthews and Mortensen, but
who had been relegated from the top
flight at the end of
a season in which
their young midfield
hero and World Cup
winner Alan Ball had
been sold to Everton.

Mortensen had
returned as manager,
but Rising asked:

“Was he the man to
revive a club that had
lost faith in itself and
appeared to have one
foot in the grave?”

\mns

E ■ “■ “

Giovanni
Dos Santos
and Carlos Vela
were the teenage
stars of a Mexico team
that beat defending
champions Brazil 3-0 in
the Final to win the World
Under-17 Championship in
Peru. Brazil defender Marcelo
- who now plays for Real
Madrid - was sent off.

Nineteen-
year-old Ivan
De La Pena was
being hailed as
the new superstar of
Spanish football.
Nicknamed “The Little
Buddha”, he had just been
awarded an eight-year
contract at Barcelona, after
Jorge Valdano had tried to
sign him for Real Madrid.

Argentina's
1978 World
Cup-winning
captain Daniel
Passarella threatened
to walk out on the national
team unless he received the
same treatment as Diego
Maradona. Coach Carlos
Bilardo told the defender that
only Maradona was guaranteed
a place in the starting line-up.

An Oleg
Blokhin goal
gave Cup-
winners Cup
holders Dynamo Kiev a
1-0 win against European
Cup holders Bayern Munich
in the second leg of the UEFA
Super Cup. Blokhin had scored
both goals in the first leg in
Germany as Dynamo chalked
up a 3-0 aggregate score.

Poland beat
Scotland 2-1
at Hampden Park
to end any hopes
Jock Stein's team had

of qualifying for the World
Cup finals in England. Despite
leading through an early Billy
McNeill goal, Poland hit back
with two goals in the last five
minutes, from Jan Liberda and
Jerzy Sadek.

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68 Euro 2016 finalists: Austria

69 Euro 2016 finalists: Portugal

70 Euro 2016 finalists: Northern Ireland

71 Euro 2016 finalists: Switzerland

72 Euro 2016 play-offs

74 Comprehensive global news

CLUB FOOTBALL

86 Results, tables, fixtures

SQUADS

94 Premier League
96 Ligue 1

WORLD SOCCER 67

EURO 2016 COUNTDOWN

Next summer^s European Championship finalists

= AUSTRIA

Impressive improvers outshone bigger names in qualifying

• OVERVIEW

One of the most impressive and improved
performers in the competition so far,
Austria qualified for the finals for the first
time after topping their group, ahead of
Russia and Sweden. Their only previous
finals appearance was in 2008 , when
they were co-hosts with Switzerland.

• After drawing with Sweden in their
opening game, Austria recorded nine
straight victories, including two 1-0
wins over Russia. Only England, with 10
victories, had a better qualifying campaign.

• Little enthusiasm greeted the
appointment of Swiss coach Marcel Koller.
He was not the big name fans wanted as
a replacement for Dietmar Constantini,
but he has overseen a remarkable
transformation in the side.

• The key players are spread around
Europe, with only goalkeeper Robert Aimer
based in Austria (Rapid Vienna). Centre-
back Aleksandar Dragovic is in Ukraine
(Dynamo Kiev), skipper Christian Fuchs
moved to England (Leicester City) this

summer and several
of the side play in
Germany. Veteran
striker MarcJanko
is back in Europe
(Basle) after a
spell in Australia.

• Koller was
consistent with
his selections, with
Aimer, Florian Klein,
Dragovic, Fuchs,
ZlatkoJunuzovic
and Marko
Arnautovic playing
in all 10 qualifiers.
He used only 17
players in total.

lmpressive...Austria beat Russia in Moscow

• TACTICS

Koller played the same formation in all
10 qualifiers. Janko is the lone striker, with
free-kick specialist Junuzovic operating
behind him in the centre of an attacking
midfield three, alongside maverick
Arnautovic and Martin Harnik.

4 - 2 - 3-1

Kleii^

Baumi

Aimer '

ProdI - Dragovic
Fuchs

linger Alaba

ngartlinge

Harnik Junuzovic- Arnautovic

O

- — ^ Janko — ^ ^

I

Marko ARNAUTOVIC

Dubbed the Austrian
Ibrahimovic, he can be
totally frustrating or
absolutely brilliant.

^ COACH

Marcel KOLLER

Former Swiss
international
midfielder who has
galvanised the squad
since taking charge in
October 2011.

• PLAYER PROFILE

Driving force...David Alaba (left) has a much higher profile with his country than at his club side, Bayern Munich

DAVID ALABA

Just one of a galaxy of stars at Bayern
Munich, the "Viennese Express" is
often squeezed out of the limelight
by such talents as Thomas Muller, Robert
Lewandowski, Arjen Robben and Manuel
Neuer. Yet he is rarely the forgotten man
in the red and-white of Austria.

With all due respect to his team-mates,
Alaba is the only world-class act in the
Austrian ranks, and he certainly performed
as such as they glided through qualifying,
driving them forward from his deep-lying
central midfield station, menacing with his
set-pieces and scoring four goals.

While Bayern have used him at
left-back, as a midfielder and even in
central defence, Austria coach Koller
sees him exclusively as the engine-room
controller, where he has so much to offer
with his technique, awareness, intensity
when pressing and ability to break through
opposition lines at pace.

“What impresses me most about him
is his capacity to interpret any situation
on the field," says Shakhtar Donetsk coach
Mircea Lucescu. “He's disciplined, strong
mentally and physically, and is outstanding
when attacking space."

Euro 2016 will be Alaba's international
tournament debut and his first real test as
the brains in midfield.

Nick Bidwell

68 WORLD SOCCER

THE QUALIFIERS

PORTUGAL

New generation threatening to explode in France

• OVERVIEW

After a poor World Cup and opening
qualifying loss to Albania, the team reached
France 2016 at a canter, with a number of
exciting new players introduced.

• After a disappointing 2014 World Cup
campaign in Brazil, Portugal slumped to
a surprise home defeat in their first Euro
2016 qualifier, prompting the sacking of
coach Paulo Bento.

• Under new coach Fernando Santos
they reeled off a record seven consecutive
victories in competitive games. They also
claimed the notable friendly scalps of
Argentina and Italy, neither of whom
they had managed to beat in the
previous 40 years.

• The performances may not have been
as impressive as the results, but a sense of
optimism is noticeably sweeping through
Portuguese fans and the local press,
fuelled above all by the emergence

of a group of players who are drawing
comparisons with the original golden
generation of Luis Figo, Paulo Sousa and
Rui Costa who lifted the World Youth Cup
in 1989 and 1991.

• In addition to
Monaco winger
Bernardo Silva,

Sporting Lisbon
anchor-man William
Carvalho has proved
over a sustained
period that he is the
real deal. Porto's
Danilo and Ruben
Neves - who
recently became
the youngest-ever
captain in the
Champions League
- along with
Valencia's Andre
Gomes and
Sporting's Joao
Mario, are other midfielders who are
dazzling at the highest level as regulars
for their club sides.

Determined...Danilo gets the better of Albania's
Shkelzen Gashi during Portugal's qualification run

• TACTICS

Santos has experimented with a number of
different formations and players, but seems
to be moving towards a 4-4-2 set-up,
rather than the traditional 4-3-3.

/ Moutinho J'^90 i

" W Carvalho — Silva ^

n ^

^ Nani Ron^do

Fernando SANTOS

Replaced Paulo Bento
in September 2014,
having spent the
previous four years as
coach of Greece's
national side.

• PLAYER PROFILE

The future...Bernardo Silva made his name at last summer's Euro Under-21 tournament and is now a fixture in the senior side

Bernardo Silva

Portugal's hugely underwhelming World
Cup showing in Brazil and disastrous home
defeat by Albania in September 2014
demonstrated that an injection of new
blood and fresh ideas was imperative.

New coach Fernando
Santos promised that “every
player eligible, at home or
abroad, will have a chance
of being called up". Fie was
j to his word, calling up 51
players in little over a year and giving 15
their full debut - in stark contrast to his
predecessor, Paulo Bento, who had stuck
by the same names in his four-year tenure,
despite form or viable alternatives.

Portugal's midfield boasts an
embarrassment of riches and Monaco's
precociously talented Silva, who enjoyed a
fabulous debut season in Ligue 1 last term,
is the figurehead of a group who promise
an exciting future for the national team.

Oozing class, the 21 -year-old is
technically exceptional, intelligent in
possession, incisive in his distribution and
a potent goal threat. Fie was outstanding
as Portugal finished runners-up at the
European Under-21 Championship in the
Czech Republic last summer, and by the
end of Euro 2016 qualifying it surprised
nobody he was starting for the senior side.

Tom Kundert

WORLD SOCCER 69

EURO 2016 COUNTDOWN

-h NORTHERN IRELAND

Underdogs on their way to their first Euro finals

• OVERVIEW

The green-and-whites qualified for their
first Euro finals, and their first tournament
since the 1986 World Cup, with a squad
drawn from a limited pool of players but
galvanised by manager Michael O’Neill.

• Northern Ireland's campaign got off
to a flying start with a win in Hungary,
thanks to a goal from Kyle Lafferty
Another Lafferty goal secured victory over
Greece in Athens in their next trip. A 3-0
win over Greece, at a rebuilt Windsor Park
in Belfast, secured qualification.

• O'Neill deserves huge credit for making
the most of limited resources - made
worse by the change in regulations which
has allowed players such as James
McClean and Darron Gibson, both born

in the North, to represent the Republic.

• Only a handful play in the Premier
League - Lafferty at Norwich City and
Steven Davis at Southampton, plus Jonny
Evans, Chris Brunt and Gareth McAulay
at West Bromwich Albion. The rest are
scattered around England's lower divisions
and Scotland, including Kilmarnock striker
Josh Magennis, a former goalkeeper, who

scored a crucial goal against Greece.

• TACTICS

Lafferty plays in front of a solid midfield
policed by the likes of Chris Baird, Davis
and Oliver Norwood, while the more
attack-minded players like Jamie Ward
attempt to support him.

—McGovern

.q.l O

® McAuley^- J Evans

^./rMcLaughlm Brunt

“ C7 - — » I

/ Ward Davis Noi^od Dallas '
Laffertv^- —

Steven DAVIS

The former Northern
Ireland midfielder took
Shamrock Rovers into
the Europa League
group stage on a
tiny budget.

Michael O’NEILL

The Southampton
midfielder and
national captain
scored two goals in
the win that secured
qualification.

• PLAYER PROFILE

Main man...Kyle Lafferty has cleaned up his act and will be Northern Ireland's spearhead in France

KYLE LAFFERTY

From doghouse to penthouse. Kyle
Lafferty was Northern Ireland's top scorer
in qualifying with seven goals and is now
reaping a rich reward for finally cleaning
up his act.

On the receiving end of virulent
criticism after seeing red for a reckless,
late challenge on Joao Pereira in a World
Cup 2014 qualifying loss to Portugal, the
Norwich City striker seemed, at the time,
to have burned his bridges with the I FA.

However, following a home-truths
session with manager Michael O'Neill,
he has worked to change his wild ways
and has been on an irresistible roll since
netting the winner in the opening qualifier
in Hungary. He is more professional in his
attitude, revelling in his new main-man
responsibilities and providing much of the
impetus for the side's qualifying triumph.

"Michael made me wake up," says the
ex-Burnley, Rangers and Palermo striker.
"He sat me down and talked to me like an
adult. The things he said hurt but, when
I went away and thought about it, I knew
he was right"

There are still problems at club level.
He has barely featured in the Premier
League this term and may have to move
on if he is not to be rusty for his date with
destiny in France. His country needs him.

Nick Bidwell

70 WORLD SOCCER

THE QUALIFIERS

n SWITZERLAND

‘NatV pin hopes on youth

• OVERVIEW

Vladimir Petkovic is planning for the
post-Ottmar Hitzfeld era with a young,
multicultural side.

• The Swiss qualified for the Euro 2016
finals after finishing second in their group,
behind England. That was despite a poor
start, losing to England in their opening
match, and then going down away to
closest rivals Slovenia. The turning point
of the campaign was a recovery from
2-0 down in the return against the
Slovenians to win 3-2 thanks to late
goals from substitutes Josip Drmic and
Valentin Stocker.

• The Swiss will have one of the youngest
squads at the Euros. Members of the
2009 world under-17 title-winning side,
such as Haris Seferovic and Granit Xhaka,
have made the step up to the senior side.
Other key players, such as Drmic, Admir
Mehmedi, Ricardo Rodriguez and Fabian
Schar, are all well established in the
German Bundesliga.

• Petkovic has tried to end his players'
inferiority complex by declaring: "We are
no longer little Switzerland!'

Goal..Josip Drmic (right) scores against Slovenia

• TACTICS

Petkovic likes a flexible formation allowing
for a cental striker and two wide men, or
two strikers with a playmaker (Xherdan
Shaqiri) behind. Raiding full-backs Stephan
Lichtsteiner and Rodriguez are important
weapons, while teenage striker Breel
Embolo is an exciting option on the bench.

..lichtsteiner '

Sommer
Schar « Djourou

Rodrigue^

X^a Inter Be^mi

a .

Sefer ovic^

Mehmedi

The multilingual
former Lazio coach
was the surprise
appointment to
replace Ottmar
Hitzfeld in 2014.

Vladimir PETKOVIC

Xherdan SHAQIRI

The playmaker is now
trying to re-boot his
career at Stoke City
after tough times
at Bayern Munich
and Internazionale.

• PLAYER PROFILE

Starting point... Yann Sommer is an enthusiastic graduate of the Manuel Neuer "sweeper-keeper" school

YANN SOMMER

The author of a popular blog for foodies
- waxing lyrical about his favourite recipes,
markets and restaurants - Switzerland's
goalkeeper will deserve the footballing
equivalent of a Michelin star if he can help
the “Nati” serve up tasty morsels in France.

Handed the job of national number one
when Diego Benaglio went into "club only"
mode after the World Cup, the 26-year-
old Borussia Monchengladbach stopper
has proved a most impressive successor.
Though not the tallest, he is commanding
and composed, snappy in his reflexes,
lightning-quick off his line and skilful with
the ball at his feet.

"Yann is a 100 per cent portrait of the
modern-day keeper!' says Switzerland's
goalkeeping coach Patrick Foletti. "He
has natural talent and outstanding co-
ordination. I believe he could have played
at the highest level in midfield, too"

Foletti is a big advocate of the Manuel
Neuer sweeper-keeper school and
Sommer plays with the same sense of
adventure. "I like to come out from the
back and play!' he says. "During my early
days at Basle, when I was third choice, I
often used to put away the gloves and play
right-back or right-wing. I learnt all about
using my feet and as a goalkeeper I've
profited. It's given me another perspective"
Nick Bidwell

WORLD SOCCER 71

m

Euro 2016 Qualifiers

GAVIN HAMILTON

First-time qualifiers
join the finals party

Twenty teams book their place at France 2016

he expansion of the European
Championship to a 24-team finals
produced some notable qualifiers,
with Albania, Iceland, Northern
Ireland, Slovakia and Wales all
through to their maiden Euro
showpiece. The first-time qualifiers were among
the 20 teams who booked their place in France
next summer; the four remaining spots will be
claimed by the winners of the play-offs.

In particular, Albania, Iceland and Northern
Ireland performed way above expectations, having
all been drawn in the fifth pot of seeds at the
beginning of the qualifying campaign.

Albania benefitted from UEFA's award of a
walkover against group rivals Serbia after the match
between the teams in October 2014 was abandoned
amid chaotic scenes. Albania lost the return match in
Serbia (see page 32), but won their final match, 3-0
in Armenia, to clinch qualification for the first time.

Northern Ireland reached their first European finals
- and their first tournament finals since the 1986
World Cup - with a 3-1 victory over Greece at Windsor
Park in Belfast. Concerns that Michael O'Neill's side
would miss suspended top scorer Kyle Lafferty were
allayed thanks to goals from captain Steven Davis (two)
and Lafferty's replacement. Josh Magennis, a former
goalkeeper who now plays as a striker in the Scottish
Premiership with Kilmarnock.

Wales, who had put their celebrations on hold after
only drawing at home to closest challengers Israel in
September, lost 2-0 to Bosnia in Zenica but clinched
their spot after Israel failed to beat Cyprus in Jerusalem
Wales' final home game, in which they beat Andorra

• Albania

• Austria

• Belgium

• Croatia

• Czech
Republic

• England

• France

• Germany

• Iceland

• Italy

• Northern
Ireland

• Poland

• Portugal

• Romania

• Russia

• Slovakia

• Spain

• Switzerland

• Turkey

• Wales {above)

Only England
enjoyed a 100
percent record
in qualifying

2-0, turned into a party to celebrate the country's first
qualification for a major tournament since the 1958
World Cup.

Slovakia, who qualified for the 2010 World Cup,
sealed their first Euro finals place with a 4-2 win in
Luxembourg. Early in the campaign, the Slovakians
had handed Spain their first defeat in qualifying
for a major tournament in eight years.

Iceland, who had sealed qualification in the
penultimate round of games in September, lost
their final group game to Turkey to finish in second
place behind Czech Republic. That result, thanks
to Selcuk loan's dramatic last-minute free-kick,
enabled Turkey to finish the campaign as the best
third-placed team and qualify automatically. That
place had been expected to go to Hungary, but they
lost their final game to Greece and will now face
Norway in the play-offs.

Nearly all the major European powers - Germany,
Spain, Italy, Belgium,

England - came
through the qualifying
campaign with relative
ease, although only
England enjoyed a
100 per cent record.

The glaring ^

exception were Holland, who failed to qualify for the
European Championship for first time since 1984 (see
page 82). Greece, who were European champions in
2004, also miss out after finishing bottom of Group
F and losing twice to the Faroe Islands.

Less than 10,000 fans turned out to watch Greece's
final game against Hungary and even a 4-3 win could
not compensate for a disastrous campaign. Claudio
Ranieri replaced Fernando Santos after the 2014
World Cup, but his ambitious plans to play a more
attacking game with a younger team backfired
spectacularly. Sergio Markarian replaced Ranieri
midway through the campaign, but he failed to bring an
improvement and made way for under-21 coach Kostas
Tsanas while the federation searches for a big-name
replacement for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Austria surprised many by topping their group ahead
of Russia and Sweden. Under low-key Swiss coach
Marcel Koller, the Austrian team that finished fourth
in their Euro 2012 qualifying group was unexpectedly
revived, despite a lack of individual stars.

In the same group, Russia recovered under stand-
in coach Leonid Slutsky, following the sacking of the
highly paid Fabio Capello, to finish ahead of Sweden.

Croatia took second place in their group behind Italy,

Clash...Albania's
Migjen Basha
and Andi Lila
(no2) stop Adem
Ljajic of Serbia

72 WORLD SOCCER

WORLD SERVICE

and ahead of Norway, following the sacking of Niko Kovac
and despite suffering a one-point deduction after a
swastika was carved into the pitch ahead of their qualifier
against Italy in June.

Romania, Switzerland and Poland also qualified as
second-placed finishers. However, Scotland, who were
strong advocates of the expansion to 24 teams, failed
to qualify from a tough group, finishing behind Germany,
Poland and Republic of Ireland. An injury-time equaliser
by Poland's Robert Lewandowski in their penultimate
match proved fatal to Scottish hopes. ■

THE PLAY-OFFS

Norway v Hungary

Nov 12

Bosnia-Herzegovina v Rep Ireland

Nov 13

Ukraine v Slovenia

Nov 14

Sweden v Denmark

Nov 14

Hungary v Norway

Nov 15

Rep Ireland v Bosnia-Herzegovina

Nov 16

Slovenia v Ukraine

Nov 17

Denmark v Sweden

Nov 17

WORLD SOCCER 73

I" SEPTEMBER 29 - OCTOBER 26 , 201 ^)

Global diary

A comprehensive record of recent events around the world

Tuesday,

September 29

ALGERIA: ES Setif skipper Mourad
Delhoum is banned for six matches
for spitting at Al Merreikh coach
Diego Garzitto in August, as his
side lost 2-0 in Sudan in the CAP
Champions League group stage.
BELARUS: BATE halt a run of five
straight Champions League group
losses with a shock 3-2 win at home
to Roma.

GERMANY: A Robert Lewandowski
hat-trick in Bayern Munich's 5-0
victory over Dinamo Zagreb in the
Champions League takes the Polish
striker's tally to 10 goals in his last
three games.

GREECE: Olympiakos win on English
soil for the first time, beating Arsenal
3-1 in the Champions League.
GUINEA-BISSAU: National coach
Paulo Torres is banned by CAE
for the remainder of the African
Nations Cup qualifying campaign
abusing the referee during a goalless

draw with Zambia in June.
PORTUGAL: Former Real Madrid
goalkeeper Iker Casillas makes a
record-breaking 152nd appearance
in the Champions League as Porto
beat Chelsea 2-1.

UAE: Former Benfica striker Lima
gives Al Ahli the advantage of an
away goal in their AFC Champions
League semi-final as they draw 1-1
in Saudi Arabia against Al Hilal, who
miss a penalty.

I

CHINA: Guangzhou Evergrande
come from a goal down to beat
Gamba Osaka of Japan 2-1 in their
home leg of the AFC Champions
League semi-final.

ITALY: Alvaro Morata equals
Alessandro Del Piero's club
record of scoring in five consecutive
Champions League games for
Juventus with the opening goal
in a 2-0 win against Sevilla.
LEBANON: Al Ahed beat Tripoli

1- 0 to win the Lebanese Super Cup.
SPAIN: Cristiano Ronaldo nets his
500th career goal and then equals
Raul's club record of 323 goals for
Real Madrid as he scores twice in a

2- 0 Champions League victory over
Malmo in Sweden. Atletico Madrid
lose at home in the competition for
the first time since 2009 as they go
down 2-1 to Benfica.

USA: Jordi Quintilla scores the
winning spot-kick as Sporting Kansas
City beat Philadelphia Union on
penalties to win the US Open Cup.

Thursday^

October 1

BELGIUM: There are surprise Europa
League defeats for Anderlecht and
Club Brugge, who lose 1-0 to
Qarabag in Azerbaijan and 3-1 at
home to Midtjylland respectively.
CHILE: Universidad de Chile retain
the Chilean Super Cup, beating
Universidad de Concepcion 2-1.
CZECH REP: Vladimir Coufal scores
with the visitors' only shot on target

as Liberec beat Marseille 1-0 in the
Europa League.

GERMANY: Franco Di Santo scores
three times in 17 minutes to record
the fifth-fastest hat-trick in Europa
League history as Schalke beat
Asteras 4-0.

IRAN: International striker Hadi
Norouzi, who is captain of Tehran-
based club Persepolis, dies in his
sleep of a heart attack, aged 30.
ITALY: Giuseppe Rossi scores his first
goal since May 2014 as Fiorentina
beat Portugal's Belenenses 4-0 in
the Europa League.

Friday

October 2

BELGIUM: Surprise table-toppers
Oostende extend their lead by
beating Lokeren 2-0.

FRANCE: Lille beat Montpellier 2-0
for their second win of the season.
SPAIN: Celta Vigo are still unbeaten
but miss the chance to go top of La
Liga as they are held to a 0-0 draw
at home to Getafe.

Saturda3^

October 3

ALGERIA: Having won the away leg
in Sudan 2-1, USM Alger book their
place in the CAE Champions League
Final with a goalless draw at home to
Al Hilal.

ENGLAND: Sergio Aguero scores five
goals in 20 minutes as Manchester
City thrash Newcastle United 6-1,
while Chelsea surprisingly lose 3-1
at home to Southampton.

FRANCE: Angers continue their fine
start to the season as they climb to
second with a 1-0 win against Bastia.
INDIA: Portuguese striker Helder
Postiga scores twice as defending
champions Atletico de Kolkata kick

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WORLD SERVICE

off the Indian Super League with
a 3-2 victory over Chennaiyin.

ITALY: Carpi claim their first-ever
victory in the top flight with a 2-1
defeat of Torino. Chievo draw 1-1
with city rivals Verona.

SCOTLAND: Premiership leaders
Aberdeen are beaten 5-1 at home
by St Johnstone.

SPAIN: After six league games
without a goal, Malaga finally get
off the mark, beating Real Sociedad
3-1 with a hat-trick from Charles.

S u n d a

BELGIUM: Anderlecht miss three
penalties and concede an own goal
in stoppage time to draw 1-1 with
Mechelen. Sven Kums celebrates
his first call-up to the national squad
with a hat-trick for champions Gent
in their 4-1 win against Club Brugge.
DR CONGO: TP Mazembe overturn
a 2-1 first-leg deficit and win 3-0
at home to Sudan's Al Merreikh
to reach their first CAP Champions
League Final since they won back- >

I ^ m

IlI

uiJL:

y ^ i

H 1

__ fl

Stuttering start to
World Cup campaign

One point from six puts pressure on coach Martino

ith just one point and no goals from
their opening two qualifiers on the
road to Russia 2018, Argentina's
home game against Brazil in Buenos
Aires on November 13 has become
a must-win match - particularly as
Gerardo Martino's side face a long trip north to play
Colombia four days later

And with Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero facing
battles to be fit in time, these are testing times for
national coach Martino.

During his successful spell in charge of Paraguay,
Martino proved himself to be impressively versatile.

He got off to an awkward start at the 2007 Copa
America when his attempt to impose an attacking style
came unstuck in a 6-0 quarter-final defeat to Mexico. It
caused Martino to have a rethink, and in the build-up to
the 2010 World Cup in South Africa he fashioned
a side that could take the initiative when possible and
hold the opposition at bay with traditional Paraguayan
resilience when necessary.

However, with his native Argentina, the 52-year-old
former Barcelona boss has been less flexible. And more
than a year into his reign, all the talk has been
of the implantation of “an idea of play'' which “is not
negotiable''.

Despite losing their opening qualifier 2-0 in Chile,
Brazil will put Martino's words to the test, especially
with Neymar back from suspension, as the visitors'
great strength is their ability to counter-attack - which
clearly caused problems for Argentina in their 2-0
home defeat by Ecuador and the goalless draw in

Highlighting “the effort and
the attitude of the players”
are words often trotted out
by a beleaguered coach

Paraguay. These two games demonstrated that the
current Albiceleste are a team that can be stretched
and are vulnerable to fast-breaking opponents.

Martino is the latest Argentina coach to struggle
with balancing out a side in a variation of a 4-3-3.

His biggest headache is the lack of pace at the back,
meaning that the defensive line drops deep and there is
too much space between the sectors of the side.

The coach might feel that he has made some
progress with the introduction against Paraguay of
River Plate's Atletico Madrid-bound Matias Kranevitter
alongside Javier Mascherano. But the addition of
the 22-year-old as a second holding midfielder to
provide extra cover comes at a cost. After the game
in Asuncion, Martino conceded that his side had lacked
fluency and that the midfield elaboration had been
better against Ecuador.

He was also forced to highlight “the effort and the
attitude of the players'' - words that are often trotted
out by a beleaguered coach in the absence of anything
better to say.

With Brazil boss Dunga himself under increasing
pressure to get a result, the stakes in the latest
showdown between South America's big two have rarely
been higher.

WORLD SOCCER 75

S Mexico

> to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.
ENGLAND: Arsenal beat Manchester
United 3-0 to go second, while
Liverpool sack Brendan Rodgers
after a 1-1 draw at Everton. Dick
Advocaat resigns after Sunderland’s
winless start to the season.
ETHIOPIA: Saint George beat
Defence Force on penalties to
win the Ethiopian Super Cup.
FRANCE: Two penalties from Zlatan
Ibrahimovic make him Paris Saint-
Germain's all-time leading scorer
with no goals as they extended their
lead at the top of Ligue 1 with a 2-1
win over Marseille. Monaco's poor
start continues as they draw 1-1 at
home to Rennes, while Caen rise to

third by beating Saint-Etienne 1-0.
GERMANY: Robert Lewandowski
makes it 12 goals in his last four
games as Bundesliga leaders
Bayern Munich hammer second-
place Borussia Dortmund 5-1 to
go seven points clear.

HOLLAND: Gaston Pereiro scores
twice as PSV win 2-0 and inflict
a first league defeat of the season
on Ajax.

ITALY: Fiorentina go two points clear
of Internazionale - who draw 1-1 at
Sampdoria - at the top of Serie A
with a 3-0 win over Atalanta, while
Juventus beat Bologna 3-1 and Milan
are thrashed 4-0 at home by Napoli.
SOUTH AFRICA: Orlando Pirates
come back from two goals down to
win 4-3 at holders Al Ahly of Egypt
and reach the CAE Confederation
Cup Final, where they will face Etoile
Sahel of Tunisia in November.

SPAIN: Villarreal stay top of La Liga
despite losing for the first time with
a 1-0 defeat at Levante, while Real
Madrid are held to a 1-1 draw after
city rivals Atletico get a late equaliser.

Monday]

October 5

WALES: Real Madrid forward Gareth
Bale is named Welsh player of the
year for a record fifth time at the
Football Association of Wales awards.
He also wins the players’ player and
fans' player of the year prizes.

Tu e

NIGERIA: Vincent Enyeama, the
33-year-old goalkeeper who is ►

MARTIN DEL PALACIO LANGER

El Tri earn

bragging

rights

Victory secures place in Russia

® n October 10, Mexico experienced
one of its best football nights in
recent years. In a dramatic match,
defined by a stunning goal in extra
time, El Tri beat arch-rivals USA to
qualify for the 2017 Confederations
Cup in Russia. A few hours earlier, the nation's
under-23 side had beaten Canada in the Olympic
qualifying semi-finals to book their place in Rio de
Janeiro, where they will now defend the title they
won in London.

Those results were a balm for a country that is
obsessed with its status in the region. Historically
undisputed leaders for the past 20 years, Mexico
supporters have seen their northern neighbours
constantly challenge their supremacy in CONCACAF
of late.

Gold Cup winners in July and supported by a
contingent of seven UEFA Champions League players,
Mexico were considered the clear favourites against
a US side going through a complicated generational
change. Despite that, the team arrived at the game
in Pasadena surrounded by doubt.

Without a full-time coach after Miguel Herrera
was sacked for punching a journalist following the
Gold Cup victory, the Mexican FA had tried to find a
quick replacement. But after being rejected by such
high-profile candidates as Marcelo Bielsa, Jurgen Klopp
and Jorge Sampaoli, they settled for the interim
appointment of Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti.

Born in Brazil, Ferretti has spent all his managerial
career in the Mexican league. So, even though he once
declared he would prefer to be a taxi driver than be in
charge of the national side, the 61-year-old reluctantly
accepted the position "out of gratitude to the country

Joy...Mexico
celebrate
beating the
neighbours

that had given him everything". Despite being one of
the most successful coaches on the domestic scene,
his appointment sparked controversy: for its temporary
condition, his defensive mindset and his well-known
short fuse.

Mexico arrived at the game in the United States
without a win in six matches against their hosts. Since
Jurgen Klinsmann had taken charge of the US, El Trfs
record against them consisted of three defeats and
three draws, and in the Mexican press there was
a distinct fear that the power balance in the region
had shifted.

Those doubts were accentuated when Ferretti
announced a 4-3-3 line-up with three strikers in Javier
Hernandez, Oribe Peralta and Raul Jimenez but no
established defensive midfielder. In the past, the usual
tactic of the United States against Mexico was to sit
back, soak up the pressure and then launch counter-
attacks to take advantage of the spaces left by El Tri.
The Mexican line-up that was being sent out looked
tailor-made for a new episode of the same story.

However, from the first minute, it was clear that
Ferretti knew what he was doing. The high Mexican
forward line and their relentless pressing frustrated

76 WORLD SOCCER

WORLD SERVICE

the Americans, who never felt comfortable with the
ball. Mexico assumed control of the game and the
host's feared counter-attacks almost never came.

Nevertheless, El Tri struggled to reflect their
dominance on the scoreboard. Mexico went ahead in
the 10th minute after a combination between the three
strikers was finished off by Hernandez. Geoff Cameron

r

then equalised four minutes later after a mistake
by the Mexican defence following a free-kick from
Michael Bradley.

After that, Mexico dominated without being able
to score and then the game went into extra time.
Peralta appeared to settle matters for the visitors in
the 96th minute, but another mistake allowed the US
to equalise with 12 minutes left to play.

Remaining calm and saving the best for last, there

were only three minutes to go when Mexico right-
back Paul Aguilar picked up a loose, high ball in the
American box and won the game with a spectacular
first-time volley.

The victory to decide who represented CONCACAF
at the Confederations Cup was made all the sweeter
by the under-23 side's 2-0 win against Canada. The
juniors went on to beat Honduras
in the Final, while the US will have
to beat Colombia in a play-off
if they are to join El Tri and
Honduras in Rio.

But even in the best times,
Mexico football is never very
far from controversy. A few days
after beating the United States, Ferretti finished his
internship and the Mexican FA announced Colombian
coach Juan Carlos Osorio as his replacement. Most of
the Mexican press, who had been expecting a high-
profile candidate, reacted with displeasure at the
news and will almost certainly analyse every one
of Osorio's decisions with a microscope.

Interesting times, as ever, would appear to lie ahead
for the Mexican game. '^5

Interim coach Ricardo Ferretti once
declared he would prefer to be a taxi
driver than be in charge of Mexico’s
national side

► his country's most capped player,
quits international football after he is
replaced as national captain.

Wednesday®

CROATIA; Dinamo Zagreb reveal
midfielder Arijan Ademi failed a drug
test after their Champions League
victory over Arsenal in September.
SOUTH SUDAN: Torrential rain in
Juba sees South Sudan's first-ever
World Cup qualifier, at home to
Mauritania, abandoned after 10
minutes with the score at 1-1.

AUSTRALIA: Brisbane Roar open
the new A-League season with a 3-1
win at Western Sydney Wanderers.
CHILE: The Copa America holders
begin their World Cup qualification
campaign with a 2-0 win against
Brazil with goals from Eduardo
Vargas and Alexis Sanchez. It is their
first victory over the five-time world
champions in 15 years.

ECUADOR: Goals from Frickson
Erazo and Felipe Caicedo give
Ecuador a shock 2-0 win away to
Argentina in the World Cup qualifiers.
ENGLAND: Former Borussia
Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp is
appointed manager of Liverpool.
FIFA: The Ethics Committee hands
90-day suspensions to Sepp Blatter,
Michel Platini and Jerome Vaicke,
while Chung Mong-joon is banned
for six years.

JORDAN: A 2-0 win over Asian
champions Australia sees Jordan
leapfrog their visitors at the top of
their World Cup qualifying group.

NORTHERN IRELAND: A 3-1 win

at home to Greece secures a first-
ever qualification for the European

Championship and a first major finals
for 30 years.

PORTUGAL: Joao Moutinho scores
the only goal of the game in a 1-0
victory over Denmark that seals a
place in next summer's Euro finals.

Friday]

October 9

REP OF IRELAND: Dundalk retain
the title with a 1-1 draw at Shamrock
Rovers as second-place Cork City
draw 1-1 with Drogheda United.
SPAIN: The European champions ►

WORLD SOCCER 77

► will get the chance to defend their
crown in France next summer after
beating Luxembourg 4-0.
SWITZERLAND: Seven different
players score as Switzerland beat San
Marino 7-0 to qualify for Euro 2016.
SWAZILAND: A 6-0 win in Djibouti
equals the record away victory for a
World Cup qualifying game in Africa.

Saturday^

October 10

BELGIUM: A 4-1 win over Andorra
seals Belgium's place at Euro 2016.
HOLLAND: Robin Van Persie comes
on as a sub to win his 100th cap
as Holland win 2-1 in Kazakhstan.
ITALY: Goals from Eder, Stephan

El Shaarawy and Matteo Darmian
give Italy a 3-1 win against Azerbaijan
and a place in the Euro finals.
MEXICO: An extra-time goal from
Paul Aguilar gives Mexico a 3-2
victory over USA and a place in
the 2017 Confederations Cup.
WALES: Despite losing 2-0 away to
Bosnia, Wales qualify for their first
major finals since 1958 due to Israel's
2-0 Euro defeat by Cyprus.

Sunday

October 11

ALBANIA: A 3-0 Euro qualifying
win in Armenia equals Albania's
best-ever competitive victory and
secures a place in the finals of a

major tournament for the first time.
MEXICO: The reigning Olympic
champions will defend their title in
Rio after winning the CONCACAF
qualifying tournament, beating
Honduras 2-0 in the Final. Both
finalists go through to the finals,
while USA play off against Colombia.
POLAND: First-half goals from
Grzegorz Krychowiak and Robert
Lewandowski give Poland a 2-1 win
against Republic of Ireland in Warsaw
and secure Euro 2016 qualification.

Monda^

October 12

AFRICA: Yaya Toure, Pierre-Emerick
Aubameyang and Mohammed Salah

Klinsmann under fire

‘Black Saturday’ adds to calls for coach’s head

0 ince defeat by Mexico in the 2017
Confederations Cup play-off and an
Olympic qualifying loss to Honduras
- which came within hours of each
other on Saturday, October 10 - the
criticism of Jurgen Klinsmann has
been growing, putting both his jobs at stake. National
coach sinceJuly 2011, the 51-year-old German was
given a four-year contract extension by US Soccer
Federation president Sunil Gulati in December 2013
that upped his salary to an estimated $4million a year.
He was also handed the additional responsibility of
technical director.

Part of Gulati's reasoning was that Klinsmann
was much sought after by other countries, so it was
essential to secure him to a long-term contract. But
there were those who felt results over the previous
two years did not warrant such a move.

Setting out to prove the doubters wrong at the
following summer's World Cup, the USA made it out of
what Klinsmann called a “group of death - the worst of
the worst''. But while he claimed reaching the knockout
stage was a triumph, Klinsmann's team did nothing new.
The USA made it to the second round in 2010, under
Bob Bradley, when they won their group, and in 2002
Bruce Arena took the team to the quarter-finals.

Nor was there anything remarkable in the USA's play
in Brazil. They never looked comfortable on the ball,
failed to develop any rhythm or showed little hint of
a style of play.

Despite the national side's recent poor results - the
most recent of which was a 1-0 loss at home to Costa
Rica on October 13 - nothing has been heard from
Gulati beyond a statement that he would be meeting
with Klinsmann, as he always did after games, to
discuss how things were going. But things have not
got any better and, on October 24, the USA failed

to qualify from the group stage of the Under-17 World
Cup in Chile.

Klinsmann is also under attack for his obsession with
foreign coaches - his staff containing the German duo
of Berti Vogts and Matthias Hamann, with Austria's Andi
Herzog running the Olympic team. While many feel the
Olympic team should be coached by an American,
Klinsmann has made it clear that he does not hold
a high opinion of American soccer - and that means
both its coaches and its players. So far he has tracked
down and recruited over half-a-dozen players, mostly
from Germany, who are American passport holders and
therefore qualified to play for the national side.

He has sounded off more than once about the
training young American players undergo - a direct
criticism of Major League Soccer. Indeed, in 2014,
his constant sniping moved MLS commissioner Don
Garber to publicly and harshly rebuke him, describing
Klinsmann's comments as "very, very detrimental to the
league...to everything we're trying to do''.

Nor are Klinsmann's dealings with his players exactly

78 WORLD SOCCER

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are nominated for the 2015 CAF
African Footballer of the Year.
ENGLAND: A 3-0 victory away to
Lithuania gives Roy Flodgson's team
the only 100 per cent record in
qualification for the Euro finals.
RUSSIA: A 2-0 win over Montenegro
in Moscow sees Russia qualify for
Euro 2016 and means Leonid Slutsky
has won all four games since taking
over from Fabio Capello.

SLOVAKIA: A 4-2 win away to
Luxembourg secures Slovakia second
place in Group C and automatic
qualification for Euro 2016.

SPAIN: Cesc Fabregas misses a
penalty on his 100th appearance

for Spain as they beat Ukraine 1-0 in
Kiev thanks to a goal from debutant
Mario Caspar.

Tu e s

ARGENTINA: A goalless draw with
Paraguay means Argentina are
without a win after their first two
World Cup qualifiers for the first time
in 46 years.

BRAZIL: Willian scores twice as
Brazil get their first World Cup
qualifying win, beating Venezuela
3-1 in Fortaleza.

CHAD: Flaving twice been denied
on away goals, Chad advance to the
next stage of World Cup qualifying

for the first time when a 2-1 loss in
Sierra Leone sees them draw 2-2
on aggregate and advance on away
goals themselves.

CHILE: Two goals each from Alexis
Sanchez and Eduardo Vargas help
Chile to a 4-3 win away to Peru, who
have Christian Cueva sent off.
COMOROS: Although they have
never won a World Cup qualifier,
Comoros go through to the next
stage on away goals after a 1-1
draw in Lesotho.

CROATIA: Two points adrift at
kick-off, Croatia’s 1-0 win in Malta,
coupled with Norway's 2-1 loss away
to Italy, sees Croatia claim a place in

France next summer.

ECUADOR: A 2-0 win at home to
Bolivia maintains Ecuador's 100 per
cent start to their World Cup
qualifying campaign.

ENGLAND: Former West Ham
United boss Sam Allardyce is
appointed Sunderland manager,
returning to the club where he
played between 1980 and 1981.
HOLLAND: Dutch striker Robin Van
Persie scores an own goal and then
makes amends at the right end, but
he cannot prevent Holland's hopes of
qualifying for the Euros ending with a
3-2 loss at home to Czech Republic.
SYRIA: A hat-trick from Oasama >

Heated...Olympic
coach Andi Herzog
rages at the fourth
official during the
Honduras defeat

Foreign legion...
Jurgen Klinsmann
(right) is accused of
being obsessed with
foreign coaches,
such as compatriot
Bert! Vogts (left)

private. He has openly criticised Clint
Dempsey and Michael Bradley for
leaving Europe and then returning to
MLS. And after the recent Mexico
game, he sent Fabian Johnson (one
of his German-Americans) back
to Germany and told the world that
it was because he had asked to
be substituted.

The worst example of Klinsmann's
apparent need to put the blame on
his players came when he dropped
Landon Donovan from the 2014
World Cup squad. In purely football
terms, the move looked to be
ridiculous and came over as being
done simply out of spite. As Arena put it: “If there are 23
players better than Landon, then we have a chance to
win the World Cup!’

Perhaps the most serious of Klinsmann's faults is his
obvious reluctance to select Hispanic players. The squad
that he took to the 2014 World Cup included just two
while there were seven “passport" Americans.

The next big test for Klinsmann - it being a pretty
safe assumption that Gulati will not remove him - will
be the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers which start
in November. Except that it is not really a test at all.
CONCACAF has three guaranteed World Cup berths
and it is absurd to imagine that the US will not stroll
through the qualifiers to take one of those.

If results matter, if player selection and team tactics
matter, if erecting a structure that includes the huge
- and growing - number of Hispanic players matters,
then Klinsmann should be out of a job, for he scores
poorly in all those areas.

What he is good at is PR. His constant smile, his
friendliness and his willingness to talk with supporters
make him a popular figure among many. After the Mexico
debacle he even managed to make his defiant - or was it
embattled? - “I'm not here to be liked" come over as
something likeable.

It does not surprise that some of the most pointed
criticism of Klinsmann has come from Donovan, who said
before the loss to Mexico: “Around the world, if a player
plays poorly they get dropped from the team. We had a
very poor summer with bad results in the Gold Cup.

“The reality is that, anywhere else in the world, if a
coach had those results, and they lose this game against
Mexico, they'd be fired. I think Jurgen has to be held to
that standard too"

WORLD SOCCER 79

Germany

“We’ve developed our own
special football culture”

Darmstadt president Rudiger Fritsch

t a time when Bayern Munich
completely dominate the German
scene, Bundesliga watchers have
to look elsewhere for their fix of
unpredictability And where better
to score than surprise-packet
new boys Ingolstadt and Darmstadt.

Widely tipped to spend the season breaking their
backs on a relegation chain gang, the unfashionable
pair have instead been running free, self-confident
and defiant, picking up scalps and points almost on a
weekly basis and burrowing their way into the top 10.

Neither team are sultans of style, relying on
heart, discipline, uncompromising defence, swift
counters and meticulously rehearsed set-pieces.

But the formula is working, especially on the road.

Using a catenaccio format which would not have
looked out of place in 1960s Italy, Ingolstadt eked
out 1-0 wins in their first three away games at Mainz,
Augsburg and Werder Bremen. Equally impressively,
Darmstadt have won at European participants Bayer
Leverkusen and Augsburg, as well as drawing at
Ruhr giants Schalke and Borussia Dortmund.

Darmstadt, a city south of Frankfurt, are hosting
top-flight football for the first time in 33 years, while
Bundesliga virgins EC Ingolstadt have only been in
existence since 2004, founded by the fusion of MTV
Ingolstadt and ESV Ingolstadt.

That both clubs have come from nowhere to live
the dream must, for the most part, be attributed to
outstanding coaches Ralph HasenhuttI at Ingolstadt
and Darmstadt’s Dirk Schuster. With vision, ambition,
eye for detail and psychological astuteness, each has
that rare ability to build teams worth much more
than the sum of its parts - journeymen plus cast-offs
all woven into a coat of many colours.

The term "miracle worker" is thoroughly apt.
HasenhuttI, a former Austria striker and coach
at lower-league German clubs Unterhaching
and Aalen, needed just 18 months to transform
Ingolstadt from second-tier relegation candidates
to champions. One minute a rabble, the next, a
finely tuned and compact high-pressing machine.

"We have the power, the dynamism and the
understanding," declared HasenhuttI. "It won’t be
enough against every opponent in the Bundesliga,
but it must be possible for us to beat mid-table
sides. The Bundesliga needs underdogs"

Once a terrier-like defender with the old DDR
national team and Karlsruhe, Schuster has arguably
achieved even more of a fairy tale with Darmstadt,
taking on a moribund third-tier club and guiding

Ingolstadt and Darmstadt ruffle feathers

New boys hit
their stride

Fairy tale...Ralph HasenhuttI turned
Ingolstadt from relegation candidates
to second-division champions in 18 months

Wall game...
Darmstadt defend
a free-kick from
Bayer Leverkusen's
Hakan Calhanoglu

them to promotion in each of the past two seasons.

Like his gregarious old Karlsruhe boss Winni Schafer,
Schuster is a dab hand at firing up his personnel and as
an English-style manager - both coach and director of
sport - really does own the masterplan.

At both clubs stars are emerging. Ingolstadt
midfielder Pascal Gross is one of the best dead-ball
specialists around, centre-back and skipper Marvin
Matip and Austrian keeper Ramazan Ozcan have been
exceptional. Darmstadt stand-outs are keeper Christian
Mathenia, midfielder Konstantin Rausch and especially
goal-hungry Marcel Heller. Clocked at 3.7 seconds over
30 metres, the striker has really been exploiting that
velocity of late.

Don’t promoted teams have to splash the cash to
have any chance of survival? Ingolstadt and Darmstadt
beg to differ, the former spending only €3.7million on
new signings last summer and the latter investing less
than a million, preferring to bring in a slew of free
transfers and loans, among them Hertha Berlin striker
Sandro Wagner, Mainz’s Costa Rican defender Junior
Diaz, Eintracht Frankfurt attacker Jan Rosenthal and
Werder Bremen’s Italian centre-back Luca Caldirola.

Whereas HasenhuttI has mostly kept faith with the
personnel who won promotion, Schuster has built team
2.0, grabbing as many out-of-favour Bundesliga players
as he could and giving them a new lease of life.

The dividing line between the two overachievers is,
quite simply, money. Darmstadt lead a hand-to-mouth

WORLD SOCCER

WORLD SERVICE

existence, while Ingolstadt are financed by locally
based car-manufacturers Audi, thanks to whom they
have a small yet perfectly formed new stadium (the
15,800 Audi Sportpark), great training facilities,
excellent sponsorship possibilities and a yearly
stipend thought to be around €10-12m.

Company clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen,
Wolfsburg and RB Leipzig tend to be unpopular with
opposition fans, who accuse them of having
no tradition and an in-built monetary advantage.
Ingolstadt are also tarred with that brush, much to
chairman Peter Jackwerth’s annoyance. "I refuse to
discuss this works-club claptrap,” he says. "Eighty per
cent of the shares here belong to the club. On this
basis, Bayern Munich would be a works club too"

In contrast, Darmstadt's dilapidated Bollenfaltor
stadium has grass growing on the terraces, spartan
changing rooms and a press stand temporarily
erected for every home game. A home from home
for rustic, old-school charm and flashbacks to how
the German game used to be.

"We've developed our own special football
culture," Darmstadt president Rudiger Fritsch told
Kicker magazine. "We have no intention of creating
an artificial image. We've had sponsorship enquiries
from companies who share our values"

So, which new kids on the Bundesliga block to
root for? Rough-and-ready Darmstadt or the better
off but just as competitive Ingolstadt? WS

► Omari gives Syria a 5-2 victory
over Afghanistan in the World Cup
qualifiers to move above Japan at
the top of Group E.

TURKEY: Selcuk loan's 89th-minute
free-kick against Iceland sees Turkey
qualify automatically for the Euro
finals as the best third-place team.

October 14

Wednesday^

ENGLAND: Jose Mourinho is fined
£50,000 and given a suspended
one-match stadium ban following
comments he made about officials
after Chelsea's home defeat by
Southampton on October 3.
ISRAEL: National coach Eli Guttman
resigns after his failure to lead his
side to Euro 2016 following a 3-1
defeat by Belgium.

MEXICO: Juan Carlos Osorio
takes over from
interim boss
Ricardo Ferretti
as national coach.

USA: Toronto
secure their
place in the MLS
play-offs for the
first time with a 2-1
win at home to
New York Red
Bulls. Flerculez
Gomez and
Sebastian Giovinco
score the goals.

Debut...Toronto (in red) make the MLS play-offs for the first time

Thursday ig]

USA: New York Cosmos' 38-year-old
former Spain striker Raul announces
he will retire next month.

Friday^^^^

BELARUS: After two years out
injured, Dmitri Mozolevski scores on
his return as BATE beat Vitebsk 2-0
to seal their 10th consecutive title
with three matches to spare.
CROATIA: Dinamo Zagreb beat NK
Zagreb 4-1 to stretch their unbeaten
league run to 50 games, taking in a
period of 17 months.

GERMANY: Former Mainz coach
Thomas Tuchel enjoys a winning
return to his old club as Borussia
Dortmund triumph 2-0.

SCOTLAND: Despite failing to qualify
for the finals of Euro 2016, national
coach Gordon Strachan signs a
two-year contract extension.

Saturday^

October 17

CHILE: As the Under-17 World Cup
gets under way, hosts Chile are held
to a 1-1 draw by Croatia.

ENGLAND: Wayne Rooney scores his
first away league goal for 11 months
as Manchester United win 3-0 at
Everton. Raheem Sterling gets a first
hat-trick as leaders Manchester City

thrash Bournemouth 5-1.

GERMANY: Bayern Munich become
the first side to win their opening
nine games of a Bundesliga season
as they beat Werder Bremen 1-0.
ITALY: Daniele De Rossi marks his
500th game for Roma with a goal
in the 3-1 win against Empoli. Only
Francesco Totti has previously reached
this milestone for the club. Torino
coach Giampiero Ventura oversees
his 1,000th game with a 1-1 draw at
home to Milan.

SPAIN: Neymar scores four as
Barcelona come from behind to
beat Rayo Vallecano 5-2. Cristiano
Ronaldo gets his 324th goal, in a
3-0 win against Levante, to become
Real Madrid's all-time leading scorer.

S u n d

ARGENTINA:

Boca Juniors have
Daniel Diaz and
Cristian Erbes sent
off as they lose
3-1 at Racing and
miss the chance to
clinch the league
title with two
games to spare.
ENGLAND:
Georginio
Wijnaldum scores
four times as
Newcastle United
beat Norwich City 6-2 to record their
first league win of the season and
move off the foot of the table.

EURO 2016: The draw for the
two-legged play-offs produces
Sweden v Denmark, Ukraine v
Slovenia, Bosnia v Republic of
Ireland and Norway v Flungary.
FRANCE: Marseille continue to
languish in 16th place with a 1-1
draw at home to Lorient.

GREECE: Dimitar Berbatov misses
a penalty as PAOK succumb to a
stoppage-time equaliser to draw 3-3
with Iraklis in the Thessaloniki derby.
ITALY: Despite losing 2-1 at Napoli,
Fiorentina stay top of Serie A as
Internazionale can only draw 0-0
at home toJuventus.

RUSSIA: Lokomotiv beat Moscow
rivals Spartak 2-1 to close the gap on
league leaders CSKA to five points.
USA: Mike Grella scores the fastest-
ever MLS goal, finding the net within
seven seconds as New York Red
Bulls beat Philadelphia Union 4-1.

October 19

MondayJ

ENGLAND: Swansea City lose at
home for the first time this season,
going down 1-0 to Stoke City.
KUWAIT: Following FIFA's decision
to suspend the country's football
association, Kuwait steps down as >■

WORLD SOCCER 81

► host of December's Gulf Cup
of Nations tournament.

SPAIN: Bottom-of-the-league
Granada surrender a 3-1 lead at
Sporting Gijon, who draw 3-3 thanks
to a Miguel Angel Guerrero equaliser
in injury time. Fellow strugglers Las
Palmas replace coach Paco Herrera
with Quique Setien.

Tuesdaj^

October 20

ARGENTINA: Ramon Abila gives
Huracan a 1-0 lead to take to
Uruguay for the second leg of their
Sudamericana Cup semi-final against
Defensor Sporting.

GERMANY: Bayer Leverkusen and
Roma share eight goals to equal the
highest-scoring draw in Champions
League history. After 12 successive
wins, Bayern Munich go down 2-0
at Arsenal. They also fail to score
for the first time this season.
MEXICO: Five second-half goals see

and reach the Final of the
AFC Champions League.

ITALY: During a 0-0 draw with
Borussia Monchengladbach in
the Champions League, Juventus
goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon
surpasses Alessandro Del Piero's
record of having played 48,867
minutes for the club.

SPAIN: Real Madrid fail to score in
a Champions League group game for
the first time since 2008 as they are
held to a goalless draw by Paris
Saint-Germain in France.

UKRAINE: Mircea Lucescu becomes
only the fifth coach in the 23-year
history of the Champions League
to take charge of 100 games as
his Shakhtar Donetsk side lose 1-0
to Malmo in Sweden.

Thursday

October 22

EUROPA LEAGUE: Braga, Napoli
and Rapid Vienna - who beat

Finalists...Kwon Kyung-won (centre) celebrates his injury-time winner for Al Ahli

Santos Laguna thrash Costa Rica's
Deportivo Saprissa 6-1 to secure
a spot in the quarter-finals of the
CONCACAF Champions League.
PORTUGAL: At 18 years and 221
days, Ruben Neves becomes the
youngest-ever captain in the
Champions League as he leads Porto
to a 2-0 victory over Maccabi Tel
Aviv, in which Iker Casillas keeps a
competition-record 51st clean sheet.
UAE: Kwon Kyung-won's goal four
minutes into injury time earns Al
Ahli a first-ever place in the AFC
Champions League Final as they
win 3-2 on the night to beat Saudi
Arabia's Al Hilal 4-3 on aggregate.

ARGENTINA: Defending champions
River Plate beat Brazil's Chapecoense
3-1 in the home leg of their
Sudamericana Cup quarter-final.
CHINA: Guangzhou Evergrande
manage a goalless draw in Japan to
beat Gamba Osaka 2-1 on aggregate

Marseille, Midtjylland and Viktoria
Plzen respectively - are the only
teams left in the competition with
100 per cent records.

Friday]

October 23

FRANCE: Lyon bounce back from
their midweek Champions League
defeat to beat Toulouse 3-0.

October 24

SaturdayJ

ENGLAND: Arsenal go top of the
Premier League by beating Everton
2-1, while Chelsea manager Jose
Mourinho is sent to the stands as his
side lose 2-1 at West Ham United.
FRANCE: GFC Ajaccio win in the top
flight for the first-ever time as they
stun Nice 3-1. Goal-line technology
is used to award a goal in Ligue 1 for
the first time as Kamil Grosicki scores
for Rennes in a 1-1 draw with Lorient.
GERMANY: Bayern Munich become
the first club to win 1,000 Bundesliga
games with a 4-0 victory at home to
Cologne. Bayer Leverkusen twice ►

jpHolland

Dismal Dutch
entering the
Dark Ages

Euro exit highlights a raft of problems
that have gone ignored

here is something about a
European Championship held
in France that gives Holland a
terrible fright. Thirty years ago the
Oranje’s entrance was blocked by
Spain thrashing Malta 12-1 ; this
time around the 2014 World Cup bronze medallists
suffered the biggest Euro qualifying humiliation since
November 1963, when they were eliminated after a
2-1 defeat by Luxembourg.

For many abroad it was a shock. However, at
home most people had seen it coming.

Nearly everything went wrong - from Daryl
Janmaat's last-minute mistimed backheader against
Czech Republic in September last year, which
handed David Limbersky the perfect opportunity to
score the winning goal, to Robin Van Persie heading
into his own goal in Holland's 3-2 home defeat by
the same opponents 13 months later

Injuries to key players like Arjen Robben, foolish
red cards, disastrous defending and too many

Fallen idol...
Memphis Depay's
attitude has been
brought into
question

defeats: it was a catalogue of disasters. Frankly, a
team that took only one point against their main
rivals Iceland, Czech Republic and Turkey simply
didn't deserve to be in France.

Since Danny Blind took over in June, after the
Dutch FA had shown Guus Hiddink the door, things
deteriorated. Under former Ajax captain Blind,
Holland lost three of their four remaining matches.
All had been crucial if they were to have any hope
of reaching France, either automatically in second
place or via the play-offs.

Elimination is just another sign that Dutch
football has lost its dominance. There have been

WORLD SOCCER

WORLD SERVICE

warnings for some time. For eight years, not one Dutch
club has reached the knockout phase of the Champions
League. Holland will lose its automatic qualifying berth
in 2017 and even a second (preliminary) spot in 2020
if its clubs continue like this. The level of the domestic
Eredivisie is declining every year with no sign of change.

The Dutch FA organised a summit on the future of
the country's game last December, attended by
prominent people from across Dutch football, including
Johan Cruyff. A masterplan is not expected until May
2016, but FA director Bert Van Oostveen has already
revealed: "Mentality will be an important factor^'

That is an indirect challenge to the way Memphis
Depay has behaved of late. A symbol of recent times,
he was praised at the World Cup but heavily criticised
during the Euro qualifiers - for his over-the-top fashion
statements and refusal to talk to the media despite the
FA code obliging him to do so. And if Depay didn’t like
a question, he would answer: "Next question".

His attitude would not be a talking point if he had
done his talking on the pitch, but the Manchester United
striker did not. Eight matches, no goals, not even an
assist, in the qualifying campaign says it all.

Apart from mentality there are other important
questions to tackle. Why did Holland stubbornly stick to
a static 4-3-3 system? Even Louis Van Gaal showed at
the World Cup that there are other ways. Why has no
decent defender emerged since Jaap Stam?

"That eternal focus on ball possession seems to be
the ultimate goal in Dutch football," said the Dutch FAs

“I don’t feel damaged myself.
We must analyse where we
went wrong and look ahead”

Holland coach Danny Blind

technical director Jelle Goes, showing
that Holland has been caught up in its
own dogmas for too long.

With so many deep-lying problems
to solve, sacking Blind would be of no
use. So the coach, who was originally
scheduled to take over from Hiddink
after Euro 2016, will stay - backed by Van Oostveen,
who has no choice since two sackings within a matter
of months would make his own position untenable.

There is no suitable successor. Van Gaal is finishing
his career at Manchester United, while Ronald Koeman,
bluntly dismissed as a top candidate by Van Oostveen in
favour of Hiddink, and Frank De Boer won't step in now.

Blind has his work cut out to stabilise a young team
(it had the youngest defence of all teams in the
qualifiers with an average age of 23.9 years) and find a
more realistic way of playing. He also needs to show his
qualities as a leader - though many doubt he can - and
steer the team in the right direction. The immediate
future, though, is bleak.

Blind must hope veterans like Wesley Sneijder and
Robben remain fit and are willing to go one final round.
As for Van Persie, who collected his 101st cap against
the Czechs but has been hardly fit for over a year, there
are serious doubts about his future.

It is more likely Holland have entered a footballing
Dark Ages and it will take years to come even close to
third place at a World Cup. Now, even qualifying for a
tournament is an insurmountable hurdle. WS

WORLD SOCCER 83

> come from two goals down to beat
Stuttgart 4-3.

ITALY: Internazionale miss the
chance to go top as they are held
1-1 at Palermo. Bologna move off
the bottom of Serie A as they come
from behind to beat Carpi 2-1.

SPAIN: Real Madrid inflict Celta
Vigo's first defeat of the season to
move three points clear at the top
of La Liga with a 3-1 win. Kevin
Gameiro scores a hat-trick as Sevilla
beat Getafe 5-0.

ENGLAND: Manchester City return
to the top of the table after a 0-0
draw with Manchester United.

Sunderland record their first league
win of the season and move off the
foot of the table with a 3-0 victory
over Newcastle United. Aston Villa,
who sacked manager Tim Sherwood
earlier in the day, go bottom.
ESTONIA: A 1-0 victory over Infonet,
coupled with Levadia drawing 0-0 at

lowly Parnu Linnameeskond, means
Flora Tallinn claim their 10th Estonian
league title.

FINLAND: In just their second
season in the top flight, SJK from
Seinajoki are crowned champions
with a 2-0 victory over bottom club
FFJaro.

FRANCE: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores
his seventh goal in his last four
games against Saint-Etienne as Paris
Saint-Germain win 4-1 to open up
a seven-point gap over their nearest
rivals at the top of Ligue 1. Marseille
end a run of seven matches without
a win with a 2-1 success at Lille,
GERMANY: Andre Schubert leads
Borussia Monchengladbach to a fifth
straight win as caretaker coach with
a 3-1 victory over Schalke, who have
midfielder Johannes Geis sent off for
stamping on Andre Flahn's knee.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scores
a hat-trick as Borussia Dortmund
beat bottom side Augsburg 5-1.
ITALY: Goals from Mohamed ►

i Indonesia

JOHN DUERDEN

Federation ban set
to stay as FIFA runs
out of patience

Vital need for change as Indonesian game is put in danger

ootball suspensions handed out by
FIFA are not new to Asia. Kuwait was
hit with one in October, but it
is expected to be short-lived.
Indonesia, though, is different.

It always is. After warnings, final
warnings and last-minute reprieves, FIFA finally pulled
the plug on the federation, known locally as PSSI, in
May. The ban, still in place, is due to last until 2016.

It was all down to the usual government interference,
but FIFA bears some of the blame for the mess the
country's football scene has been in for much of the
21st century. Allowing PSSI president Nurdin Flalid to
hold his post while serving two prison sentences was a
dereliction of duty. The subsequent breakaway league
and national team should have brought more than
sternly worded letters from Jerome Vaicke - and if
there is one silver lining for the Frenchman with his own

84 WORLD SOCCER

WORLD SERVICE

“It doesn’t matter if we are
absent for a while as long as
we can win big in the future”

State president Joko Widodo’s reaction to the ban

In jeopardy...lndonesia (in white) take on Vietnam in the Southeast Asian Games

personal suspension, it is surely not having Indonesian-
related problems arriving at his desk on a regular basis.

Then there was the tragedy of Diego Mendieta. The
Paraguayan footballer died all alone in Indonesia in
2012, unable to afford medical treatment due to the
fact that he had not been paid by his club.

When the suspension finally came, some felt it was
a good thing, citing the example of Garuda, the
national airline. Banned from entering European
airspace because of a dodgy safety record in 2007,
Garuda went away to rebuild and came back a much
stronger entity to win awards.

At the moment, however, there are few signs football
will go the same way. The reaction of state president
Joko Widodo was fairly sanguine. "It doesn't matter if
we are absent from international competitions for a
while as long as we can win big in the future," he said.

It seems as if it does matter. The national team was
banned from qualification for the 2018 World Cup and
the 2019 Asian Cup. Clubs were ejected from the AFC
Cup, the continental competition second only to the
Champions
League. Youth
development
programmes are
stopping, schemes ^
that are crucial in a
massive, sprawling
archipelago that is
only going to come

Plea...FIFpro
Asia chairman
Brendan Schwab

close to reaching its potential when the 100 million
children have access to good coaches and decent
facilities. National team coach Pieter Huistra is on the
verge of leaving as the Dutchman has virtually nothing
to do and has found difficulty getting paid.

Players and other club employees are finding the
same. There have been unofficial tournaments such as
the recently concluded President's Cup but this was for
a select few clubs. Most clubs need money as much as
they need games. Players and officials will be lost to
the game if something does not change soon. Talk
among supporters and media is starting to shift more
towards European football and it doesn't help that rivals
are looking good - a Malaysian club is in the Final of
the AFC Cup while Thailand's national team is going
from strength to strength.

Officials from the AFC and FIFA were due in the
country at the end of October and the delegation is
due to report back to FIFA's executive committee in
December. That could be a vital step towards the ban
being lifted but there is not much optimism in the
world's fourth-most populous country that the end
of the ban is imminent. Privately, Indonesian officials
believe it will stretch well into next year but this
extension will inevitably prolong the damage taking
place lower down the ladder.

More cynical fans believe that the FIFA ban gives
PSSI and officials the perfect excuse for future failures.
Brendan Schwab, chairman of FlFpro - the global
players' union - in Asia has called for more to be done.
“The PSSI can't hide behind FIFA," says Schwab. “It,
together with the government and all key stakeholders,
must now put the interests of Indonesian football first
by embracing fundamental governance and business
practice reform to achieve a lasting solution"

There have been problems in the past but there was
always massive potential to keep spirits up. For now,
even the potential is in danger of slipping away.

I

► Salah and Gervinho give Roma a
2-1 win at Fiorentina to put them top
of Serie A for the first time this term.
NORWAY: Rosenborg claim the
Norwegian title for a record 23rd
time, with two games to spare, with
a 3-3 draw at Stromsgodset.
PORTUGAL: Sporting Lisbon move
three points clear at the top of the
Primeira Liga with a comfortable 3-0
win against Benfica.

RUSSIA: Spartak Moscow twice
battle back from a goal down to
beat city rivals Dynamo 3-2.

SPAIN: Luis Suarez scores a
hat-trick as Barcelona come from
behind to beat Eibar 3-1.

USA: For the second time in three
years. New York Red Bulls win the
Supporters' Shield - for best
regular-season record - with a
2-1 win over Chicago Fire on the
last day of the campaign.

Monday,

October 26

ENGLAND: Jose Mourinho is

charged by the FA “with misconduct
in relation to his language and/or
behaviour towards the match officials
in or around the dressing room area
at half-time" during Chelsea's 2-1
defeat at West Ham United.
GERMANY: Hoffenheim fire Markus
Gisdol and replace him with Dutch
coach Huub Stevens. Schalke
midfielder Johannes Geis is banned
for five games following his red card
against Borussia Monchengladbach
for a dangerous tackle on Andre
Hahn, who was forced off just nine
minutes after coming on as a sub.
NEW ZEALAND: The future of
Wellington Phoenix, the only New
Zealand club in Australia's top flight,
is put in doubt as they are denied a
request for a 10-year extension on
their A-League licence.

SPAIN: After losing four of their
opening five games in La Liga,
Athletic Bilbao move up to 12th place
with a comfortable 3-0 victory over
Sporting Gijon. WS

WORLD SOCCER 85

RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

Internationals

2018 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS

SOUTH AMERICA section

• 4.5 finals places available

(the 10 confederation members are playing in a
single group; each team will play 18 games, 9x2;
games to be completed by Oct 2017)

Oct 8 - Buenos Aires

Argentina 0

Ecuador 2 (Erazo 81, Caicedo 82)

HT: 0-0. Ref: Bascunan (Chi)

Argentina: Romero - Roncaglia, Garay,
Otamendi, Mas, Biglia, Mascherano, Pastore
(Lavezzi 70), Di Maria, Aguero (Tevez 24),

Correa.

Ecuador: Dominguez - Paredes, Achilier, Erazo,
W Ayovi, A Valencia, Noboa, Quinonez
(Castillo 75), Montero (Martinez 77), Bolanos,
Caicedo (Mena 84).

Oct8-LaPaz

Bolivia 0

Uruguay 2 (Caceres 9, Godin 68)

HT: 0-1. Ref: Loustau (Arg)

Bolivia: D Vaca - Zampiery, Zenteno, Martelli,
Torrico, Veizaga, Chumacero (Lizio 60), Castro
(Diaz 46), Campos (Cardozo 68), Arce, Duk.

Sent off: Torrico 70.

Uruguay: Muslera - Caceres, Gimenez, Godin,

A Pereira, Corujo, Gonzalez, Sanchez (Lodeiro
73), C Rodriguez (Mayada 37), Hernandez
(Rolan 61 ), Stuani.

Oct 8 - Santiago

Chile 2 (Vargas 72, Sanchez 89)

Brazil 0

HT: 0-0. Ref: Zambrano (Ecu)

Chile: Bravo - Jara, G Medel, Silva (M Gonzalez
41 ), Isla, M Diaz (Vilches 82), Vidal, Valdivia
(Fernandez 63), Beausejour, Sanchez, Vargas.
Brazil: Jefferson - Daniel Alves, Miranda, David
Luiz (Marquinhos 36), Marcelo, Luiz Gustavo
(Lucas Lima 82), Elias, Willian, Oscar, Douglas
Costa, Hulk (Ricardo Oliveira 77).

Oct 8 - Barranquilla

Colombia 2 (Gutierrez 36, Cardona 90+4)

PeruO

HT: 1-0. Ref: Arias (Par)

Colombia: Ospina - Arias, Zapata, Murillo, Fabra,
Sanchez, Guarin (Mejia 63), Cuadrado, Cardona,
Gutierrez (Falcao 75), Bacca (Castillo 90+2).
Peru: Gallese - Advincula, Zambrano (Ramos
78), Ascues, Cespedes, Ballon, Lobaton, Cueva,
Carrillo (Hurtado 81 ), Pizarro (Reyna 72),
Guerrero.

Oct 8 - Puerto Ordaz

Venezuela 0

Paraguay 1 (D Gonzalez 86)

HT: 0-0. Ref: Buitrago (Col)

Venezuela: Baroja - Rosales, Vizcarrondo,
Lucena, Cichero, Rincon, Seijas, Suarez
(Murillo 80), C Gonzalez (Guerra 61 ), Falcon
(Martinez 73), S Rondon.

Paraguay: A Silva - Aguilar, Da Silva, Samudio,

B Valdez, N Ortigoza, R Ortiz (V Caceres 66),
Benitez, Gonzalez, Santander (Bobadilla 73),
Barrios (Fabbro 86).

OctlS - Fortaleza

Brazil 3 (Willian 1, 41, Ricardo Oliveira 73)
Venezuela 1 (Santos 64)
HT:2-0.Ref:Fedorczuk(Uru)

Brazil: Alisson - Daniel Alves, Miranda,
Marquinhos, Filipe Luis, Luiz Gustavo, Elias, Oscar
(Lucas Lima 65), Willian, Ricardo Oliveira (Hulk
80), Douglas Costa (Kaka 74).

Venezuela: Baroja - Rosales, Vizcarrondo,
Amorebieta, Cichero, Rincon, Seijas (A Gonzalez
80), Guerra (Murillo 46), Vargas (Figuera 46),

S Rondon, Santos.

OctlS - Quito

Ecuador 2 (M Bolanos 81, F Caicedo pen 90+4)

Bolivia 0

HT: 0-0. Ref: Ricci (Bra)

Ecuador: Dominguez - Paredes (Martinez 75),
Achilier (Mina 60), Erazo, W Ayovi, A Valencia,
Quinonez (Cazares 46), Noboa, Montero,
Bolanos, Caicedo.

Bolivia: D Vaca - Zampiery, Martelli, Eguino,
Zenteno, Morales (Rios 85), Galindo (Melean
62), Flores, Veizaga, Campos, Duk (Alvarez 80).

OctlS - Asuncion

Paraguay 0
Argentina 0
Ref: Cunha (Uru)

Paraguay: A Silva - B Valdez, Aguilar, Da Silva,
Samudio, Gonzalez (Romero 77), N Ortigoza
(Aranda 37), V Caceres, R Ortiz, Lezcano,

Barrios (Santander 67).

Argentina: Romero - Zabaleta, Otamendi,

Funes Mori, Mas, Mascherano, Kranevitter,

Pastore (Lamela 68), Di Maria, Tevez
(Dybala 74), Lavezzi (Gaitan 84).

OctlS - Lima

Peru 3 (Farfan 10, pen 35, Guerrero 90+2)

Chile 4 (Sanchez 7, 44, Vargas 41, 49)

HT: 2-3. Ref: Pitana (Arg)

Peru: Gallese - Advincula, Zambrano, Ascues,
Yotun, Ballon, Lobaton (Tapia 46), Cueva, Carrillo
(Reyna 43; Sanchez 72), Farfan, Guerrero.

Sent off: Cueva 22.

Chile: Bravo - Isla, G Medel, Jara, Mena, Vidal
(Gutierrez 64), Valdivia, M Diaz (Silva 53),
Sanchez, Vargas (Orellana 81 ), M Gonzalez.

OctlS - Montevideo

Uruguay 3 (Godin 33, Rolan 51, Hernandez 87)

Colombia 0

HT: 1-0. Ref: Lopes (Bra)

Uruguay: Muslera - M Pereira, Gimenez,

Godin, Caceres (Lodeiro 18), Corujo, Gonzalez
(Nandez 85), Sanchez (Hernandez 71 ),

A Pereira, Rolan, Stuani.

Colombia: Ospina - Arias (Falcao 71 ), Zapata,
Murillo, Fabra, Sanchez, Cardona, Guarin (Torres
57), Cuadrado, Gutierrez (Castillo 57), Bacca.
Sent off: Cuadrado 90+2.

1 2018 WC QUALS-

SOUTH AMERICA
W D L F

A

Uruguay

2

2

0

0

5

0

6

Ecuador

2

2

0

0

4

0

6

Chile

2

2

0

0

6

3

6

Paraguay

2

1

1

0

1

0

4

Brazil

2

1

0

1

3

3

3

Colombia

2

1

0

1

2

3

3

Argentina

2

0

1

1

0

2

1

Peru

2

0

0

2

3

6

0

Venezuela

2

0

0

2

1

4

0

Bolivia

2

0

0

2

0

4

0

• The top 4 will qualify for the finals; the
5th-placed country will meet the Oceania play-off
round winner in a play-off for a place in the finals

Next 2 rounds

Nov 12, 2015 Argentina v Brazil
Bolivia v Venezuela
Chile V Colombia
Ecuador v Uruguay
Peru V Paraguay
Nov 17, 2015 Brazil v Peru

Colombia v Argentina
Paraguay v Bolivia
Uruguay v Chile
Venezuela v Ecuador

ASIA section

• 4.5 finals places available

1st round

(for the 12 lowest-ranked countries)

1st legs - Mar12; 2nd legs - Mar17/2S, 2015
Cambodia v Macau 3-0, 1-1 (agg 4-1 )

East Timor v Mongolia 4-1, 1-0 (agg 5-1 )
India v Nepal 2-0, 0-0 (agg 2-0)

Sri Lanka v Bhutan 0-1, 1-2 (agg 1-3)
Taiwan v Brunei 0-1, 2-0 (agg 2-1 )

Yemen v Pakistan 3-1, 0-0 (agg 3-1 )

2nd round

(the remaining 34 countries entered at this stage;
each team will play 8 games, 4x2, except Group F,
6 games, 3x2; full match schedule below tables)

Group A

Oct 8 -Dili

East Timor 1 (Ramon Saro 54)

Palestine 1 (Abu Nahyeh 90+2)

HT: 0-0. Ref: Kim Dong-jin (SKo)

Oct 8 -Jeddah

Saudi Arabia 2 (Al Sahlawi 45, pen 89)

United Arab Emirates 1 (Khalil 18)

HT: 1-1. Ref: BinJahari (Sin)

OctlS -Dili

East Timor 0
Malaysia 1 (Amri 10)

HT: 0-1. Ref: Kim Hee-gon (SKo)

1 2018 WC QUALS -

ASIA

- 2ND ROUND: GP A I

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Saudi Arabia

4

4

0

0

15

3

12

UAE

4

2

1

1

12

2

7

Palestine

4

1

2

1

9

4

5

Malaysia

5

1

1

3

2

20

4

East Timor

5

0

2

3

2

11

2

2015

Jun 11 Malaysia v East Timor 1-1

Saudi Arabia v Palestine 3-2
Jun 15 East Timor v UAE 0-1

Malaysia v Palestine 0-6

Sep 3 Saudi Arabia v East Timor 7-0

UAE V Malaysia 10-0

Sep 8 Malaysia v Saudi Arabia (awd) 0-3

Palestine v UAE 0-0

Oct 8 East Timor v Palestine 1-1

Saudi Arabia v UAE 2-1

Oct 13 East Timor v Malaysia 0-1

Nov 5 Palestine v Saudi Arabia
Nov 12 Palestine v Malaysia
UAE V East Timor

Nov 17 East Timor v Saudi Arabia
Malaysia v UAE

2016

Mar 24 Saudi Arabia v Malaysia
UAE V Palestine

Mar 29 Palestine v East Timor
UAE V Saudi Arabia

Group B

Oct 8 -Amman

Jordan 2 (Abdel-Fattah pen 47 Al Dardour 84)

Australia 0

HT: 0-0. Ref: Toma (Jafj)

Australia: Federici - Elrich, Wright (Juric 75),
Spiranovic, Davidson, Rogic (Cahill 66), Milligan,
Mooy, Leckie, Oar (Burns 46), Luongo.

Oct 8 -Bishkek

Kyrgyzstan 2 (Duyshobekov 7,

Zemlianukhin pen 90+5)

Tajikistan 2 (M Dzhalilov 65, Nazarov pen 71 )
HT: 1-0. Ref: Bonyadifard (Irn)

Sent off: F Vasiev (Tajikistan) 90

OctlS - Amman

Jordan 3 (Al Dardour 65, 90+4, Abdel-Fattah 67)

Tajikistan 0

HT: 0-0. Ref: Al Hilali (Oma)

OctlS - Bishkek

Kyrgyzstan 2 (Lux 27, 1 Amirov 89)

Bangladesh 0

HT: 1-0. Ref: Abduihusin (Bhr)

2018 WC QUALS - ASIA - 2ND ROUND: GP B
P W D L F A Pts

Jordan 5 4

Australia 4 3

Kyrgyzstan 5 2

Tajikistan 5 0

Bangladesh 5 0

1 0 12 1 13

0 1 10 3 9

2 18 5 8

2 3 4 12 2

1 4 2 15 1

2015
Jun 11

Bangladesh v Kyrgyzstan

1-3

Tajikistan v Jordan

1-3

Jun 16

Bangladesh v Tajikistan

1-1

Kyrgyzstan v Australia

1-2

Sep 3

Australia v Bangladesh

5-0

Jordan v Kyrgyzstan

0-0

Sep 8

Bangladesh v Jordan

0-4

Tajikistan v Australia

0-3

Oct 8

Jordan v Australia

2-0

Kyrgyzstan v Tajikistan

2-2

Oct 13

Jordan v Tajikistan

3-0

Kyrgyzstan v Bangladesh

2-0

Nov 12 Australia v Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan v Bangladesh
Nov 17 Bangladesh v Australia
Kyrgyzstan v Jordan

2016

Mar 24 Australia v Tajikistan
Jordan v Bangladesh
Mar 29 Australia v Jordan

Tajikistan v Kyrgyzstan

Group C

Oct 8 -Thimphu

Bhutan 3 (Tshering Dorji 85, C Gyeltshen 88,
Basnet 90+1)

Maldives 4 (Nashid 11, Ashfaq 23, 33, pen 52)
HT: 0-3. Ref: Shamsuzzaman (Ban)

Oct 8 -Doha
Qatari (Boudiaf22)

China 0

HT: 1-0. Ref: Ko (SKo)

OctlS - Thimphu

Bhutan 0

Hong Kongl (Chan Siu Ki 89)

HT: 0-0. Ref: Asimov (Uzb)

OctlS - Doha

Qatar 4 (Khoukhi 28, 70, Kasola 69,

Musa 90+2)

Maldives 0

HT: 1-0. Ref: Al Kaf (Oma)

I 2018 WC QUALS - ASIA - 2ND ROUND: GP C

P W D L

F

A Pts

Qatar

5 5 0 0

24

2 15

Hong Kong 5 3 11

12

3 10

China

4 2 11

9

1 7

Maldives 5 10 4

4

13 3

Bhutan

5 0 0 5

3

33 0

2015

Jun 11

Hong Kong v Bhutan

7-0

Maldives v Qatar

0-1

Jun 16

Bhutan v China

0-6

Hong Kong v Maldives

2-0

Sep 3

China v Hong Kong

0-0

Qatar v Bhutan

15-0

Sep 8

Hong Kong v Qatar

2-3

Maldives v China

0-3

Oct 8

Bhutan v Maldives

3-4

Qatar v China

1-0

Oct 13

Bhutan v Hong Kong

0-1

Qatar v Maldives

4-0

Nov 12

China v Bhutan
Maldives v Hong Kong

Nov 17

Bhutan v Qatar
Hong Kong v China

2016
Mar 24

China v Maldives

Qatar v Hong Kong
Mar 29 China v Qatar

Maldives v Bhutan

Group P

Ocf 8 - Muscat
Oman 1 (Suhail 52)

Iran 1 (Hosseini 71 )

HT: 0-0. Ref: Kovalenko (Uzb)

Iran: A Haghighi - Ghafouri, Montazeri, Hosseini,
Dejagah, 0 Ebrahimi, Teymourian, Amiri (Torabi
60), Hajsafi, Taremi (Alishah 82), Azmoun
(K Rezaei 86).

Oct 8 - Ashgabat

Turkmenistan 2 (Abylov 9, Amanov 60)

India 1 (Lalpekhlua 29)

HT: 1-1. Ref: Tufaylieh (Syr)

OctlS - Muscat

Oman 3 (A Mubarak 55, Al Muqbali 65, 84)

India 0

HT: 0-0. Ref: Al Marri (Qat)

OctlS - Ashgabat

Turkmenistan 1 (Abylov 16)

GuamO

HT: 1-0. Ref: Al Khudair (Sau)

2018 WC QUALS - ASIA - 2ND ROUND: GP D
P W D L F A Pts

Oman 5 3

Iran 4 2

Turkmenistan 5 2

Guam 5 2

India 5 0

2 0 9 3 11

2 0 11 2 8

1 2 5 6 7

1 2 3 8 7

0 5 3 12 0

86 WORLD SOCCER

RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

2015

2015

■ 2018 WC QUALS - ASIA - 2ND ROUND: GP H I

Jun 11 Guam v Turkmenistan

1-0

May 24 Thailand v Vietnam

1-0

1 PWDLFAPtsl

India v Oman

1-2

Jun 16 Taiwan v Thailand

0-2

North Korea 5 4 1 0 9 2 13

Jun 16 Guam v India

2-1

Sep 3 Iraq V Taiwan

5-1

Uzbekistan 4 3 0 1 12 5 9

Turkmenistan v Iran

1-1

Sep 8 Taiwan v Vietnam

1-2

Philippines 5 2 1 2 5 8 7

Sep 3 Iran v Guam

6-0

Thailand v Iraq

2-2

Bahrain 5 2 0 3 7 7 6

Oman v Turkmenistan

3-1

Oct 8 Vietnam v Iraq

1-1

Yemen 5 0 0 5 0 11 0

Sep 8 Guam v Oman

0-0

Oct 13 Vietnam v Thailand

0-3

India v Iran

0-3

Nov 12 Thailand v Taiwan

2015

Oct 8 Oman v Iran

1-1

Nov 17 Taiwan v Iraq

Jun 11 Philippines v Bahrain 2-1

Turkmenistan v India

2-1

2016

Yemen v N Korea (awarded) 0-3

Oct 13 Oman v India

3-0

Mar 24 Iraq v Thailand

Jun 16 North Korea v Uzbekistan 4-2

Turkmenistan v Guam

1-0

Vietnam v Taiwan

Yemen v Philippines 0-2

Nov 12 India v Guam

Mar 29 Iraq v Vietnam

Sep 3 Bahrain v North Korea 0-1

Iran v Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan v Yemen 1-0

Nov 17 Guam v Iran

Group G

Sep 8 Philippines v Uzbekistan 1-5

Turkmenistan v Oman

Oct 8 - Kuwait City

Yemen v Bahrain 0-4

2016

Kuwait 0

Oct 8 Bahrain v Uzbekistan 0-4

Mar 24 Iran v India

South Korea 1 (KooJa-cheol 12)

North Korea v Philippines 0-0

Oman v Guam

HT: 0-1. Ref: Faghani (Irn)

Oct 13 Bahrain v Philippines 2-0

Mar 29 India v Turkmenistan

South Korea: Kim Seung-gyu - ParkJoo-ho,

North Korea v Yemen 1-0

Iran v Oman

Kim Young-gwon, KwakTae-hwi, Jang Hyun-soo,

Nov 12 Philippines v Yemen

Ki Sung-yueng, Jung Woo-young, Nam Tae-hee

Uzbekistan v North Korea

Group E

(Han Kook-young 63), Kwon Chang-hoon

Nov 17 North Korea v Bahrain

Oct 8 - Singapore

(Lee Jae-sung 88), KooJa-cheol, Suk Hyun-jun

Yemen v Uzbekistan

Singapore 1 (Khairul Amri 72)

(Ji Dong-won 76).

2016

Afghanistan 0

Mar 24 Bahrain v Yemen

HT: 0-0. Ref: Ng (HK)

Oct 8 - Bangkok, Thailand

Uzbekistan v Philippines

Myanmar 0

Mar 29 Philippines v North Korea

Oct8-Seeb, Oman

Lebanon 2 (Maatouk 28,

Uzbekistan v Bahrain

Syria 0

Abbas Ahmed Atwi 90+3)

Japan 3 (Honda pen 55, Okazaki 70, Usami 88)

HT: 0-1. Ref: Abdul Wahab (MIy)

• The 8 group winners and the 4 runners-up

HT: 0-0. Ref: Irmatov (Uzb)

with the best record will qualify for the 3rd round

Japan: Nishikawa - G Sakai, Makino, Yoshida,

Oct13 - Kuwait City

(the same teams will also qualify for the 2019

Nagatomo, Kagawa (Kiyotake 78), Yamaguchi,

Kuwait 0

Asian Cup finals)

Hasebe, Honda, Haraguchi (Usami 66), Okazaki

Lebanon 0

(Muto 84).

Ref: Al Jeneibi (UAE)

3rd round

The 12 qualifiers will be drawn into 2 6-team

Oct13 - Singapore

Oct13 - Bangkok, Thailand

groups (games to be played Aug 2016-Sep 2017)

Singapore 2 (Faris 16, Fazrul 47)

Myanmar 3 (Suan Lam Mang 13,

• The top 2 in both groups will qualify for the finals;

Cambodia 1 (Suhana 65)

Kyaw Ko Ko 32, Aung Thu 50)

the 2 3rd-placed countries will meet in the Asia

HT: 1-0. Ref: Kim Dae-young (SKo)

Laosi (Sayavutthi 2)

section play-off, the winner of which will meet the

HT: 2-1. Ref: Abbas (Bhr)

4th-placed CONCACAF country in a play-off for a

Oct13 - Seeb, Oman

place in the finals

Syria 5 (Omari 9, 21, 83, Al Mawas 32, 90)

■ 2018 WC QUALS - ASIA - 2ND ROUND: GP G ■

Afghanistan 2 (N Amiri 44, F Shayesteh 78)

■ P W D L F

A Pts I

AFRICA section

HT: 3-1. Ref: Mashentsev (Kyr)

South Korea 4 4 0 0 14

0 12

• 5 finals places available

Kuwait 5 3 1 1 12

1 10

2018 WCQUALS- ASIA -2ND ROUND: GPE ■

Lebanon 52124

4 7

1st round

P W D L

F

A Pts I

Myanmar 5 113 5

16 4

(for the 26 lowest-ranked countries)

Syria 5 4 0 1

18

5 12

Laos 5 0 14 3

17 1

Japan 4 3 10

12

0 10

1st legs

Singapore 5 3 11

7

2 10

2015

Oct 7 - Moroni

Afghanistan 5 10 4

3

18 3

Jun 11 Laos v Myanmar

2-2

Comoros 0

Cambodia 5 0 0 5

1

16 0

Lebanon v Kuwait

0-1

Lesotho 0

Jun 16 Laos v Lebanon

0-2

Ref: Rakotojaona (Mad)

2015

Myanmar v South Korea

0-2

Sent off: Kuenane (Lesotho) 78

Jun 11 Afghanistan v Syria

0-6

Sep 3 Kuwait v Myanmar

9-0

Cambodia v Singapore

0-4

South Korea v Laos

8-0

Oct 7 - Belle Vue Maurel

Jun 16 Cambodia v Afghanistan

0-1

Sep 8 Laos v Kuwait

0-2

Mauritius 2 (Sophie pen 68, J Bru 77)

Japan v Singapore

0-0

Lebanon v South Korea

0-3

Kenya 5 (Omollo 18, 83, Timbe 23, Shakava 49,

Sep 3 Japan v Cambodia

3-0

Oct 8 Kuwait v South Korea

0-1

Olunga 87)

Syria v Singapore

1-0

Myanmar v Lebanon

0-2

HT: 0-2. Ref: Lengani (Mwi)

Sep 8 Afghanistan v Japan

0-6

Oct 13 Kuwait v Lebanon

0-0

Cambodia v Syria

0-6

Myanmar v Laos

3-1

Oct 7 - Victoria

Oct 8 Singapore v Afghanistan

1-0

Nov 12 Lebanon v Laos

Seychelles 0

Syria V Japan

0-3

South Korea v Myanmar

Burundi 1 (Abdul Razak 17)

Oct 13 Singapore v Cambodia

2-1

Nov 17 Laos v South Korea

HT: 0-1. Ref: Nigussie (Eth)

Syria v Afghanistan

5-2

Myanmar v Kuwait

Nov 12 Afghanistan v Cambodia

2016

Oct 7 - Dar es Salaam

Singapore v Japan

Mar 24 Kuwait v Laos

Tanzania 2 (Samatta 19, Ulimwengu 23)

Nov 17 Cambodia v Japan

South Korea v Lebanon

Malawi 0

Singapore v Syria

Mar 29 Lebanon v Myanmar

HT: 2-0. Ref: Wiish (Som)

2016

South Korea v Kuwait

Mar 24 Japan v Afghanistan

Oct 7/8^ -Juba

Syria v Cambodia

Group H

South Sudan 1 (Pretino 5)

Mar 29 Afghanistan v Singapore

Oct 8 - Riffa

Mauritania 1 (Bagili 3)

Japan v Syria

Bahrain 0

HT: 1-1. Ref: Bakasambe (Uga)

Uzbekistan 4 (Sergeev 52, Ahmedov 57,

^ Match abandoned in thelOth minute because of

Group F

Rashidov 66, Shomurodov 90+5)

torrential rain; remaining 80 minutes played the

Oct 8 - Hanoi

HT: 0-0. Ref: Tojo (Jap)

next day

Vietnam 1 (Le Cong Vinh 27)

Iraq 1 (Mahmoud pen 90+7)

Oct 8 - Pyongyang

Oct 8 - Monrovia

HT: 1-0. Ref: Beath (Aus)

North Korea 0

Liberia 1 (Jebor pen 36)

Philippines 0

Guinea-Bissau 1 (Anido 63)

Oct13 - Hanoi

Ref: Ma (Chn)

HT: 1-0. Ref: Duarte (CVI)

Vietnam 0

Thailand 3 (Kroekrit 29, Dinh Tien Thanh og 55,

Oct13- Riffa

Oct 8 - Sao Tome

Theerathon 70)

Bahrain 2 (Abdul-Latif 53, Adnan 61 )

Sao Tome e Principe 1 (Luis Leal 87)

HT: 0-1. Ref: Shukralla (Bhr)

Philippines 0

Ethiopia 0

HT: 0-0. Ref: Sarray (Irq)

HT: 0-0. Ref: Alhadi Mahamat (Chd)

2018 WC QUALS - ASIA - 2ND ROUND: GP F ■

P W D L

F

A Pts I

Oct13 - Pyongyang

Oct 9 - Djibouti

Thailand 4 3 10

8

2 10

North Korea 1 (Jong ll-gwan pen 12)

Djibouti 0

Iraq 3 12 0

8

4 5

Yemen 0

Swaziland 6 (Mkhontfo 45+1, Ndzinisa 62,

Vietnam 4 112

3

6 4

HT: 1-0. Ref: Liu (HK)

Muzi DIamini 74, Hlatjwako 77, Tsabedze 83,

Taiwan 3 0 0 3

2

9 0

Lukhele 85)

Indonesia excluded after being suspended by FIFA

HT: 0-1. Ref: Ndabihawenimana (Bdi)

for government interference in the national FA

Oct9-Bakau
Gambia 1 (Savage 78)

Namibia 1 (Stephanus 62)

HT: 0-0. Ref: Karembe (Mli)

Oct 9 - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Somalia 0

Niger 2 (Maazou 59, pen 62)

HT: 0-0. Ref: Kossai (Tun)

Oct/0 - Antananarivo, Madagascar^

Central African Republic 0
Madagascar 3 (Rabeson 27,

Rakotoharimalala 39, Johann 65)

HT: 0-2. Ref: Ngambo (DRC)

'Played in Madagascar because of unrest in
Central African Republic

OctIO - N’Djamena
Chad 1 (Djimrangar 47)

Sierra Leone 0

HT: 0-0. Ref: Fagla (Tog)

OctIO -Asmara

Eritrea 0

Botswana 2 (Moyana 21, Mogorosi 64)

HT: 0-1. Ref: Nour El Din (Egy)

2nd legs

Octll -Addis Ababa

Ethiopia 3 (Dawit Fekadu 1, Gatoch pen 47,
Ramkel 75)

Sao Tome e Principe 0
HT: 1-0. Ref: Ishimwe (Rwa)

Ethiopia 3-1 onagg

Octll - Nairobi
Kenya 0
Mauritius 0
Ref: Cosmas (Cam)

Kenya 5-2 on agg

Octll - Blantyre
Malawi 1 (J Banda 43)

Tanzania 0

HT: 1-0. Ref: Martins de Carvalho (Ang)

Tanzania 2-1 onagg

Oct13 - Francistown

Botswana 3 (Ngele 15, 79, Mogorosi 21 )

Eritrea 1 (Goitom 9)

HT: 2-1. Ref: Fred (Sey)

Botswana 5- 1 on agg

Oct13 - Bujumbura

Burundi 2 (Abdul Razak pen 71, 81 )

Seychelles 0

HT: 0-0. Ref: Alamen (Sud)

Burundi 3-0 on agg

Oct13 - Bissau

Guinea-Bissau 1 (Ibraime 43)

Liberia 3 (Jebor 8, 12, 90+6)

HT: 1-2. Ref: Udoh (Nga)

Liberia 4-2 on agg

Oct13 - Maseru
Lesotho 1 (Seturumane 17)

Comoros 1 (M M'Changama 71)

HT: 1-0. Ref: Chirinda (Moz)

Aggi- 1; Comoros on away goals

Oct13 - Antananarivo
Madagascar 2 (Ramanamahefa 15,
Andrianantenaina 34)

Central African Republic 2 (Gourrier 7,
Dagoulou 44)

HT: 2-2. Ref: Bennett (SAf)

Madagascar 5-2 on agg

Oct13 - Nouakchott

Mauritania 4 (Ahmed 4, Bagili 62, M Samba 85,
Diakite 90+2)

South Sudan 0

HT: 1-0. Ref: Gomes (GuB)

Sent off: Deng (South Sudan) 86
Mauritania 5- 1 on agg

Oct13 - Windhoek

Namibia 2 (Stephanus 42, Somaeb 63)

Gambia 1 (Dibba 10)

HT: 1-1. Ref: Bondo (Bot)

Namibia 3-2 on agg

Oct13 - Niamey

Niger 4 (Cisse 13, 68, Maazou 18, 32)

Somalia 0

HT: 3-0. Ref: Kane (Sen)

Niger 6-0 on agg

WORLD SOCCER 87

RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

Oct13 - Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Sierra Leone 2 (Alhaji Kamara 70,
Abdul Sesay 79)

Chad 1 (Djimrangar 45)

HT: 0-1. Ref: Bangoura (Gui)

Agg 2-2; Chad on away goals

OctU - Lobamba
Swaziland 2 (Hlatjwako 6, 43)
Djibouti 1 (Issa 22)

HT: 2-1. Ref: Chutooree (Mrs)
Swaziland 8- 1 on agg

Curacao v Cuba

0-0, 1-1 (agg 1-1, Curacao on away goals)
Dominica v Canada 0-2, 0-4 (agg 0-6)
Dominican Republic v Belize 1-2, 0-3 (agg 1-5)
Guatemala v Bermuda 0-0, 1-0 (agg 1-0)
Nicaragua v Surinam 1-0, 3-1 (agg 4-1 )

Puerto Rico v Grenada 1-0, 0-2 (agg 1-2)

St Kitts & Nevis v El Salvador 2-2, 1-4 (agg 3-6)

St Vincent & The Grenadines v Guyana

2-2, 4-4 (agg 6-6, St Vincent on away goals)

3rd round

(the 2 next lowest-ranked countries entered at
this stage)

1st legs - Sep 4; 2nd legs - Sep 8, 2015
Antigua & Barbuda v Guatemala 1-0, 0-2 (agg 1-2)
Canada v Belize 3-0, 1-1 (agg 4-1 )

Curacao v El Salvador 0-1, 0-1 (agg 0-2)

Grenada v Haiti 1-3, 0-3 (agg 1-6)

Jamaica v Nicaragua 2-3, 2-0 (agg 4-3)

St Vincent & The Grenadines v Aruba
2-0, 1-2 (agg 3-2)

4th round draw

(the remaining 6 countries enter at this stage;
each team will play 6 games, 3x2; games to be
played Nov 2015-Sep 2016)

Group A

Canada, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico
1st 2 rounds

W Nov 13, 2015 Canada v Honduras
Mexico V El Salvador
Nov 17, 2015 El Salvador v Canada
Honduras v Mexico

Group B

Costa Rica, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama

1st 2 rounds
Nov 13, 2015

Nov 17, 2015

Group C

Costa Rica v Haiti
Jamaica v Panama
Haiti V Jamaica
Panama v Costa Rica

Guatemala, St Vincent & The Grenadines,
Trinidad & Tobago, United States

• The top 3 in both groups will qualify for the
3rd round

3rd round

The 6 qualifiers will be drawn into 2 3-team
groups (games to be played Mar 2017-Oct 2017)

• The 2 group winners will qualify for the play-off
round

Play-off round

The 2 qualifiers will meet in a play-off (games to
be played in Oct 2017)

• The play-off round winner will meet the
Sth-placed South American country in a play-off
for a place in the finals

EUROPE section

• 13 finals places available (excluding the place
for hosts Russia, who qualify automatically)

Draw

(games to be played Sep 2016-Oct 2017)

Group A

Belarus, Bulgaria, France, Holland,
Luxembourg, Sweden

Group B

Andorra, Faroe Islands, Hungary, Latvia,
Portugal, Switzerland

Group C

Azerbaijan, Czech Republic, Germany,
Northern Ireland, Norway, San Marino

Group D

Austria, Georgia, Moldova,

Republic of Ireland, Serbia, Wales

Group E

Armenia, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Montenegro,
Poland, Romania

G roup F

England, Lithuania, Malta, Scotland,

Slovakia, Slovenia

Group G

(the remaining 27 countries enter at this stage)

Nov 13, 2015 Guatemala v Trinidad & Tobago

Macedonia, Spain

Angola v South Africa

USA V St Vincent & Grenadines

■ EURO 2016 QUALIFIERS - GROUP A -

FINAL 1

Benin v Burkina Faso

Nov 17, 2015 Trinidad & Tobago v USA

Group H

■

P W D L F

A Pts 1

Botswana v Mali

St Vincent & Gr'dines v Guatemala

Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus,

Czech Rep (QF) 10 7 1 2 19

14 22

Burundi v DR Congo

Estonia, Greece

Iceland (QF) 10 6 2 2 17

6 20

Chad V Egypt

• The top 2 in each group will qualify for the

Turkey (QF) 10 5 3 2 14

9 18

Comoros v Ghana

5th round

Group 1

Holland

10 4 1 5 17

14 13

Ethiopia v Congo

Croatia, Finland, Iceland, Turkey, Ukraine

Kazakhstan 10 1 2 7 7

18 5

Kenya v Cape Verde Islands

5th round

Latvia

10 0 5 5 6

19 5

Liberia v Ivory Coast

The 6 qualifiers will form a single group (games

• The 9 group winners will qualify for the finals;

Libya v Rwanda

to be played Nov 2016-Oct 2017)

the 8 runners-up with the best record will be

2014

Madagascar v Senegal

• The top 3 will qualify for the finals; the

paired in 4 play-offs, the winners of which will

Sep 9

Czech Republic v Holland

2-1

Mauritania v Tunisia

4th-placed country will meet the winner of the

also qualify for the finals

Iceland v Turkey

3-0

Morocco V Equatorial Guinea

Asia section play-off in a play-off for a place in

Kazakhstan v Latvia

0-0

Mozambique v Gabon

the finals

■ EURO 2016 QUALIFIERS 1

OctIO

Holland v Kazakhstan

3-1

Namibia v Guinea

Latvia v Iceland

0-3

Niger v Cameroon

OCEANIA section

Group A

Turkey v Czech Republic

1-2

Sudan v Zambia

• 0.5 finals places available

OctIO - Prague

Oct 13

Iceland v Holland

2-0

Swaziland v Nigeria

Czech Republic 0

Kazakhstan v Czech Republic

2-4

Tanzania v Algeria

1st round

Turkey 2 (Selcuk Inan pen 62, Calhanoglu 79)

Latvia v Turkey

1-1

Togo V Uganda

(for the 4 lowest-ranked countries)

HT: 0-0. Att: 17190. Ref: Atkinson (Eng)

Nov 16

Czech Republic v Iceland

2-1

1st 5 2nd legs - Nov 9- 17, 2015

All played in Nuku’alofa, Tonga

Czech Republic: Vadik - Kaderabek, Suchy,

Holland v Latvia

6-0

Aug 31, 2015 Tonga v Cook Islands 0-3

Prochazka, Novak, Darida, Pavelka, Dockal

Turkey v Kazakhstan

3-1

3rd round

Samoa v American Samoa 3-2

(Petrzela 78), Sural (Skoda 67), Krejci (Skalak

2015

The 20 qualifiers will be drawn into 5 4-team

Sep 2, 2015 Cook Islands v Samoa 1-0

54), Lafata.

Mar 28

Czech Republic v Latvia

1-1

groups (games to be played Oct 2016-Nov 2017)

Tonga v American Samoa 1-2

Turkey: Volkan Babacan - Sener, Serdar,

Holland V Turkey

1-1

• The 5 group winners will qualify for the finals

Sep 4, 2015 Tonga v Samoa 0-3

Hakan Balta, Caner, Selcuk Inan, Ozan, Ozyakup

Kazakhstan v Iceland

0-3

American Samoa v Cook Is 2-0

(Mehmet Topal 87), Arda (Gokhan Tore 86),

Junl2

Iceland v Czech Republic

2-1

CONCACAF section

Calhanoglu, Tosun (Volkan Sen 64).

Kazakhstan v Turkey

0-1

• 3.5 finals places available

■ 2018 WC QUALS - OCEANIA -1ST RND - FINAL 1

Latvia v Holland

0-2

1 PWDLFAPtsI

OctIO - Reykjavik

Sep 3

Czech Republic v Kazakhstan

2-1

1st round

Samoa (Q) 3 2 0 1 6 3 6

Iceland 2 (Sigthorsson 5, G Sigurdsson 27)

Holland v Iceland

0-1

(for the 14 lowest-ranked countries)

Amer Samoa 3 2 0 1 6 4 6

Latvia 2 (Cauna 49, Sabala 68)

Turkey v Latvia

1-1

1st legs - Mar 22-2 7; 2nd legs - Mar 26-31, 2015

Cook Islands 3 2 0 1 4 2 6

HT: 2-0. Att: 9,767. Ref: Eskov (Rus)

Sep 6

Iceland v Kazakhstan

0-0

Bahamas v Bermuda 0-5, 0-3 (agg 0-8)

Tonga 3 0 0 3 1 8 0

Iceland: Halldorsson - B Saevarsson, Arnason

Latvia v Czech Republic

1-2

Barbados v US Virgin Islands 0-1, 4-0 (agg 4-1 )

(Ottesen 18), R Sigurdsson, A Skulason,

Turkey v Holland

3-0

Belize v Cayman Islands

• Samoa qualified for the 2nd round

J Gudmundsson, G Sigurdsson, Hallfredsson,

OctIO

Czech Republic v Turkey

0-2

0-0, 1-1 (agg 1-1, Belize on away goals)

B Bjarnason, Finnbogason (Gudjohnsen 65),

Iceland v Latvia

2-2

British Virgin Islands v Dominica 2-3, 0-0 (agg 2-3)

2nd round draw

Sigthorsson.

Kazakhstan v Holland

1-2

Curacao v Montserrat 2-1, 2-2 (agg 4-3)

(the remaining 7 countries enter at this stage;

Latvia: Vanins - Gabovs, Dubra, Gorkss,

Oct 13

Holland v Czech Republic

2-3

Nicaragua v Anguilla 5-0, 3-0 (agg 8-0)

games to be played May 2016-June 2016)

Maksimenko, ZJuzins (Ikaunieks 85), Tarasovs

Latvia v Kazakhstan

0-1

St Kitts & Nevis v Turks & Caicos 6-2, 6-2 (agg 12-4)

(Laizans 77), Cauna, Rakels, Sabala, A Visnakovs

Turkey v Iceland

1-0

Group A

(Karasausks 65).

2nd round

New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea,

OctIO -Astana I

Group B

(the 13 next lowest-ranked countries entered at

Samoa, Tahiti

OctIO - Andorra La Vella

this stage)

Kazakhstan 1 (Kuat 90+6)

Andorra 1 (Lima pen 51 )

1st legs -June 7- 12; 2nd legs -June14- 16, 2015

Group B

Holland 2 (Wijnaldum 33, Sneijder 50)

Belgium 4 (Nainggolan 19, De Bruyne 42,

Antigua & Barbuda v St Lucia 1-3, 4-1 (agg 5-4)

Fiji, New Zealand, Solomon Islands,

HT: 0-2. Att: 20,716. Ref: Turpin (Fra)

E Hazard pen 56, Depoitre 64)

Aruba v Barbados 0-2, 3-0 (awarded) (agg 3-2)

Vanuatu

Kazakhstan: Pokatilov - Engel, Maliy, Smakov,

HT: 0-2. Att: 3,032. Ref: Gil (Pol)

Logvinenko, Suyumbayev, Konysbayev, Kuat,
Islamkhan (Geteriyev 16), Dosmagambetov
(Nurgaliyev 81 ), Schetkin (Khizhnichenko 63).
Holland: Krul (Zoet 81 ) - Tete, Bruma, Van Dijk,
Riedewald, Wijnaldum, Blind, Sneijder (Afellay
80), El Ghazi, Huntelaar (Van Persie 87), Depay.

Oct13 - Amsterdam

Holland 2 (Huntelaar 70, Van Persie 83)

Czech Republic 3 (Kaderabek 24, Sural 35,

Van Persie og 66)

HT: 0-2. Att: 48,000. Ref: Skomina (Sin)
Holland: Zoet - Tete, Bruma, Van Dijk (Dost 64),
Riedewald (Van Persie 39), Wijnaldum, Blind,
Sneijder, El Ghazi (Lens 69), Huntelaar, Depay.
Czech Republic: Cech - Kaderabek, Suchy,

M Kadlec, Gebre Selassie, Skalak, Darida,
Pavelka, Plasil (Skoda 86), Sural (Kalas 71),
Necid (Prochazka 46). Sent off: Suchy 43.

Oct13 - Riga

Latvia 0

Kazakhstan 1 (Kuat 65)

HT: 0-0. Att: 7,027. Ref: McLean (Sco)

Latvia: Vanins - Gabovs, Dubra, Gorkss,
Maksimenko, Cauna (E Visnakovs 72), Laizans,
ZJuzins (Ikaunieks 83), A Visnakovs (Karasausks
57), Rakels, Sabala.

Kazakhstan: Pokatilov - Engel, Maliy,
Logvinenko, Shomko, Dosmagambetov
(Konysbayev 68), Kuat, Smakov, Suyumbayev,
Khizhnichenko (Schetkin 90), Nuserbayev
(Gurman 82).

Oct13 - Konya

Turkey 1 (Selcuk Inan 89)

Iceland 0

HT: 0-0. Att: 39,404. Ref: Rocchi (Ita)
Turkey: Volkan Babacan - Sener, Serdar,
Hakan Balta, Caner, Ozan, Selcuk Inan,
Ozyakup (Gokhan Tore 62), Volkan Sen
(Umut 75), Calhanoglu (Tosun 72), Arda.

Sent off: Gokhan Tore 78.

Iceland: Kristinsson - B Saevarsson, Arnason,
R Sigurdsson, A Skulason, J Gudmundsson,

A Gunnarsson, G Sigurdsson, B Bjarnason,

Andorra: Pol - San Nicolas, Lima, Llovera,

M Garcia, Rebes, Rubio, M Vieira (Peppe 86),
Moreira (Riera 73), Sonejee (Rodrigues 62),
Sanchez.

Belgium: Mignolet - Meunier (Cavanda 81 ),
Alderweireld, Vertonghen,J Lukaku, Nainggolan,
Mertens (Chadli 72), Witsel, E Hazard (Bakkali
79), De Bruyne, Depoitre.

OctlO-Zenica

Bosnia-Herzegovina 2 (DJuric 71, Ibisevic 90)
Wales 0

HT: 0-0. Att: 10,250. Ref: Undiano Mallenco (Spa)
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Begovic - Mujdza, Spahic
(Cocalic 46), Sunjic, Zukanovic, Pjanic, Hadzic
(Bicakcic 89), Salihovic, Visca (Djuric 61 ),

Ibisevic, Lulic.

Wales: Hennessey - Gunter, A Williams, N Taylor,
B Davies, Allen (D Edwards 85), Richards,
Ramsey, Bale, Ledley (Vokes 75), Robson-Kanu
(Church 84).

OctIO -Jerusalem
Israel 1 (Biton 76)

Cyprus 2 (Dossa Junior 58, Demetriou 80)

HT: 0-0. Att: 25,300. Ref: Sousa (Por)

Israel: Marciano - Dasa (Dgani 54), Tibi, Tal Ben
Haim/D, Ben Harush (Melikson 71 ), Biton, Kayal,
Zahavi, Tal Ben Haim/F, Vermouth (Hemed 65),
Dabour.

Cyprus: Giorgallides - Demetriou, Dossa Junior,
Laifis, Antoniades, Nikolaou, Laban, Makrides
(Economides 84), Efrem (Merkis 86), Mytidis,
Makris (Charalambides 46).

88 WORLD SOCCER

RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

OctB - Brussels

Belgium 3 (Mertens 64, De Bruyne 78,

E Hazard 84)

Israel 1 (Hemed 88)

HT: 0-0. Att: 39,773. Ref: Sidiropoulos (Gre)
Belgium: Mignolet - Alderweireld, Kompany
(Meunier 58), Lombaerts, Vertonghen,
Nainggolan, Pel lain! (Witsel 66), Mertens,

De Bruyne, E Hazard, R Lukaku (Origi 66).

Israel: Marciano - Dgani, Tal Ben Haini/D, Tibi,
Ben Harush, Peretz, Yeini (Vermouth 77), Kayal
(Damari 66), Zahavi, Hemed, Tal Ben Haim/F
(Rikan 59).

Oct/S - Nicosia

Cyprus 2 (Charalambides 32, Mytidis 41 )
Bosnia-Herzegovina 3 (Medunjanin 13, 44,
Djuric 67)

HT: 2-2. Att: 17,687. Ref: Taylor (Eng)

Cyprus: Giorgallides - Demetriou, Dossa Junior,
Laifis, Antoniades, Nikolaou (Economides 65),
Makrides, Laban (Aloneftis 75), Charalambides
(Kolokoudias 83), Mytidis, Efrem.
Bosnia-Herzegovina: Begovic - Mujdza, Sunjic,
Spahic, Zukanovic (Djuric 60), Visca (Bicakcic
79), Medunjanin, 0 Vranjes, Lulic, PJanic
(Salihovic 85), Ibisevic.

Oct13 - Cardiff

Wales 2 (Ramsey 50, Bale 86)

Andorra 0

HT: 0-0. Att: 33,280. Ref: Blom (Hoi)

Wales: Hennessey - Gunter, A Williams, Chester,
B Davies, J Williams (Church 86), Ramsey,
Vaughan, Robson-Kanu (D Edwards 23;
Lawrence 46), Vokes, Bale.

Andorra: Pol - San Nicolas, Lima, Llovera, Rubio,
Rodrigues, M Vieira, Sonejee (Ayala 70), Moreira
(Riera 12), Sanchez, Lorenzo (M Garcia 81 ).

1 EURO 2016 QUALIFIERS

- GROUP B -

FINAL

P

w

D

L

F

A

Pts

Belgium (QF)

10

7

2

1

24

5

23

Wales (QF)

10

6

3

1

11

4

21

Bosnia-H(QP) 10

5

2

3

17

12

17

Israel

10

4

1

5

16

14

13

Cyprus

10

4

0

6

16

17

12

Andorra

10

0

0

10

4

36

0

2014

Sep 9

Andorra v Wales

1-2

Bosnia-Herzegovina v Cyprus

1-2

Oct 10

Belgium v Andorra

6-0

Cyprus V Israel

1-2

Wales V Bosnia-Herzegovina

0-0

OctB

Andorra v Israel

1-4

Bosnia-Herzegovina v Belgium

1-1

Wales V Cyprus

2-1

Nov 16

Belgium v Wales

0-0

Cyprus V Andorra

5-0

Israel v Bosnia-Herzegovina

3-0

2015

Mar 28

Andorra v Bosnia-Herzegovina

0-3

Belgium v Cyprus

5-0

Israel v Wales

0-3

Mar 31

Israel v Belgium

0-1

Junl2

Andorra v Cyprus

1-3

Bosnia-Herzegovina v Israel

3-1

Wales V Belgium

1-0

Sep 3

Belgium v Bosnia-Herzegovina

3-1

Cyprus V Wales

0-1

Israel v Andorra

4-0

Sep 6

Bosnia-Herzegovina v Andorra

3-0

Cyprus V Belgium

0-1

Wales V Israel

0-0

Oct 10

Andorra v Belgium

1-4

Bosnia-Herzegovina v Wales

2-0

Israel v Cyprus

1-2

OctB

Belgium v Israel

3-1

Cyprus V Bosnia-Herzegovina

2-3

Wales V Andorra

2-0

Group C

Oct 9 -Skopje

Macedonia 0

Ukraine 2 (Seleznyov pen 59, Kravets 87)

HT: 0-0. Att: 4,821. Ref: Hategan (Rom)
Macedonia: Pacovski - Brdarovski, Sikov,
Ristevski, Zhuta, Alimi, Hasani (Abdurahimi 22),
PetrovikJ, A Ibraimi, Ilijoski (M Ivanovski 64),
Askovski (Nesterovski 78).

Ukraine: Pyatov - Fedetskyi, Khacheridi,
Rakitskyi, Shevchuk, Rybalka, Rotan (Malinovsky!
90), Sydorchuk, Yarmolenko (Karavayev 86),
Seleznyov (Kravets 74), Konoplyanka.

Oct9-Zilina

Slovakia 0

Belarus 1 (Dragun 34)

HT: 0-1. Att: 9,859. Ref: Gocek (Tur)

Slovakia: Kozacik - Hubocan, Skrtel, Salata,
Svento, Mak (Duda 79), Kucka, Hamsik,

Pecovsky (Nemec 60), Weiss (Stoch 71 ), Duris.
Belarus: Gorbunov - Polyakov, Martynovich,
Sivakov, Bordachev (Volodko 40), Stasevich,
Dragun, Bressan, Nekhaychik (Politevich 69),
Gordeichuk, Signevich (Kislyak 72).

Sent off: Martynovich 65.

Oct9-Logrono

Spain 4 (Cazorla 42, 85, Paco Alcacer 67, 80)

Luxembourg 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 14,472. Ref: Delferiere (Big)

Spain: Casillas - Juanfran, Bartra, Pique, Jordi
Alba, Cazorla, Busquets, Fabregas, Silva (Mata
11 ), Morata (Paco Alcacer 33), Pedro (Nolito 77).
Luxembourg: Joubert - Delgado, Malget,

Chanot, Gerson, Jans, Bensi (Deville 64),

Mutsch, Payal, C Martins (Da Mota 79), Joachim
(Turpel 90).

OctU - Borisov

Belarus 0
Macedonia 0

Att: 1,545. Ref: Dingert (Ger)

Belarus: Gorbunov - Polyakov, Politevich,
Sivakov, Volodko, Dragun (Putsilo 73), Stasevich,
Bressan, Gordeichuk, Nekhaychik (Kislyak 61 ),
Signevich.

Macedonia: Mitov Nilsson - Ristovski, Sikov,
Mojsov, Zhuta, Stjepanovic (Alimi 84), PetrovikJ,
Brdarovski (Abdurahimi 73), A Ibraimi
(Nestorovski 86), Trickovski, Trajkovski.

Oct/2 - Luxembourg

Luxembourg 2 (Mutsch 61, Gerson pen 65)
Slovakia 4 (Hamsik 24, 90+1, Nemec 29,

Mak 30)

HT: 0-3. Att: 2,512. Ref: Drachta (Aut)
Luxembourg: Joubert - Delgado (Turpel 81 ),
Philipps, Chanot, Gerson, Jans, Bensi (Thill 66),
Mutsch, Payal (Malget 57), C Martins, Joachim.
Slovakia: Kozacik - Gyomber, Skrtel, Hubocan,
Svento, Pecovsky, Kucka, Mak (Sabo 87),

Hamsik, Weiss (Sestak 72), Nemec (Jakubko 79).

OctU -Kiev
Ukraine 0
Spain 1 (Mario 22)

HT: 0-1. Att: 61,248. Ref: Mazic (Ser)

Ukraine: Pyatov - Fedetskyi, Kucher, Rakitskyi,
Shevchuk, Rotan (Zinchenko 87), Stepanenko,
Yarmolenko, Harmash (Rybalka 58),
Konoplyanka, Kravets (Seleznyov 87).

Spain: De Gea - Mario, Etxeita, Nacho,
Azpilicueta, Thiago, San Jose, Fabregas
(Mata 64), Isco, Paco Alcacer (Busquets 85),
Nolito (Jordi Alba 75).

1 EURO 2016 QUAUFIERS

- GROUP C -

FINAL 1

P

w

D

L

F

A

Pts

Spain (QF)

10

9

0

1

23

3

27

Slovakia (QF)

10

7

1

2

17

8

22

Ukraine (QP)

10

6

1

3

14

4

19

Belarus

10

3

2

5

8

14

11

Luxembourg

10

1

1

8

6

27

4

Macedonia

10

1

1

8

6

18

4

2014

Sep 8

Luxembourg v Belarus

1-1

Spain V Macedonia

5-1

Ukraine v Slovakia

0-1

Oct 9

Belarus v Ukraine

0-2

Macedonia v Luxembourg

3-2

Slovakia v Spain

2-1

OctB

Belarus v Slovakia

1-3

Luxembourg v Spain

0-4

Ukraine v Macedonia

1-0

Nov 15

Luxembourg v Ukraine

0-3

Macedonia v Slovakia

0-2

Spain V Belarus

3-0

2015

Mar 27

Macedonia v Belarus

1-2

Slovakia v Luxembourg

3-0

Spain V Ukraine

1-0

Jun 14

Belarus v Spain

0-1

Slovakia v Macedonia

2-1

Ukraine v Luxembourg

3-0

Sep 5

Luxembourg v Macedonia

1-0

Spain V Slovakia

2-0

Ukraine v Belarus

3-1

Sep 8

Belarus v Luxembourg

2-0

Macedonia v Spain

0-1

Slovakia v Ukraine

0-0

Oct 9

Macedonia v Ukraine

0-2

Slovakia v Belarus

0-1

Spain V Luxembourg

4-0

OctB

Belarus v Macedonia

0-0

Luxembourg v Slovakia

2-4

Ukraine v Spain

0-1

Group D

Oct 8 -Tbilisi

Georgia 4 (Vatsadze 30, 45, Okriashvili pen 35,
Kazaishvili 87)

Gibraltar 0

HT: 3-0. Att: 11,330. Ref: Boiko (Ukr)

Georgia: Revishvili - Kakabadze, Kashia,
Amisulashvili, Grigalava, Okriashvili
(Dzalamidze 58), Kankava (Palavandishvili 58),
Kazaishvili, Kvekveskiri, Kobakhidze, Vatsadze
(Tskhadadze 73).

Gibraltar: J Perez - Garcia, R Casciaro,

R Chipolina, J Chipolina, Gosling, Walker,

L Casciaro (J-P Duarte 76), Bardon, K Casciaro
(Yome 85), Cabrera (B Perez 46).

Oct 8 - Dublin

Republic of Ireland 1 (Long 70)

Germany 0

HT: 0-0. Att: 50,604. Ref: Velasco Carballo (Spa)
Rep Ireland: Given (Randolph 43) - Christie,
Keogh, O'Shea, Ward (Meyler 69), Hendrick,
McCarthy, Brady, Hoolahan, Walters, D Murphy
(Long 65).

Germany: Neuer - Ginter (Bellarabi 77),
Boateng, Hummels, Hector, Reus, Gundogan
(Volland 85), Kroos, Ozil, T Muller, Gotze
(Schurrie 35).

Oct 8 - Glasgow

Scotland 2 (Ritchie 45, S Fletcher 62)

Poland 2 (Lewandowski 3, 90+4)

HT: 1-1. Att: 49,359. Ref: Kassai (Hun)

Scotland: Marshall - Hutton, R Martin, Hanley,
Whittaker, Brown, D Fletcher (McArthur 74),
Forrest (Dorrans 84), Naismith (Maloney 69),
Ritchie, S Fletcher.

Poland: Fabianski - Piszczek, Pazdan, Glik,

Flybus (Wawrzyniak 71 ), Krychowiak, Maczynski,
Grosicki, Blaszczykowski (Olkowski 83),

Milik (Jodlowiec 63), Lewandowski.

Octli - Leipzig

Germany 2 (T Muller pen 50, Kruse 79)

Georgia 1 (Kankava 53)

HT: 0-0. Att: 43,630. Ref: Kralovec (CzR)
Germany: Neuer - Ginter, Boateng, Hummels,
Hector, Gundogan, Kroos, T Muller, Ozil, Reus
(Bellarabi 90), Schurrie (Kruse 76).

Georgia: Revishvili - Lobzhanidze, Kverkvelia,
Amisulashvili, Kashia, Navalovski, Kankava,
Kvekveskiri (Khizanishvili 78), Kazaishvili
(Kobakhidze 90), Gelashvili (Vatsadze 46),
Okriashvili.

OctV - Faro-Loule, Portugal

Gibraltar 0

Scotland 6 (C Martin 25, Maloney 39,

S Fletcher 52, 56, 85, Naismith 90+1 )

HT: 0-2. Att: 12,401. Ref: Kulbakov (Bis)
Gibraltar: Robba - Garcia, Barnett, R Chipolina,

R Casciaro, J Chipolina, Walker, D Duarte
(B Perez 57), L Casciaro (J-P Duarte 82),

Bardon, K Casciaro (Yome 89).

Scotland: McGregor - Hutton, Greer, Berra,
Robertson, Ritchie (Russell 63), Dorrans,

Brown (D Fletcher 63), Maloney, C Martin
(Naismith 76), S Fletcher.

Octli - Warsaw

Poland 2 (Krychowiak 13, Lewandowski 42)
Republic of Ireland 1 (Walters pen 16)

HT: 2-1. Att: 57,497. Ref: Cakir (Tur)

Poland: Fabianski - Piszczek, Glik, Pazdan,
Wawrzyniak, Linetty, Krychowiak, Olkowski
(Blaszczykowski 63), Maczynski (Szukala 78),
Grosicki (Peszko 85), Lewandowski.

Rep Ireland: Randolph - Coleman, O'Shea,
Keogh, Brady, McClean (Hoolahan 73),

McCarthy, Whelan (McGeady 58), Hendrick,
Walters, Long (Keane 55). Sent off: O'Shea 90+2.

1 EURO 2016 QUALIFIERS

- GROUP D -

FINAL

P

w

D

L

F

A

Pts

Germany (QF) 10

7

1

2

24

9

22

Poland (QF)

10

6

3

1

33

10

21

R Ireland (QP) 10

5

3

2

19

7

18

Scotland

10

4

3

3

22

12

15

Georgia

10

3

0

7

10

16

9

Gibraltar

10

0

0

10

2

56

0

2014

Sep 7

Georgia v Republic of Ireland

1-2

Germany v Scotland

2-1

Gibraltar v Poland

0-7

Octli

Poland V Germany

2-0

Republic of Ireland v Gibraltar

7-0

Scotland v Georgia

1-0

Oct 14

Germany v Republic of Ireland

1-1

Gibraltar v Georgia

0-3

Poland V Scotland

2-2

Nov 14

Georgia v Poland

0-4

Germany v Gibraltar

4-0

Scotland v Republic of Ireland

1-0

2015

Mar 29

Georgia v Germany

0-2

Republic of Ireland v Poland

1-1

Scotland v Gibraltar

6-1

Jun 13

Gibraltar v Germany

0-7

Poland V Georgia

4-0

Republic of Ireland v Scotland

1-1

Sep 4

Georgia v Scotland

1-0

Germany v Poland

3-1

Gibraltar v Republic of Ireland

0-4

Sep 7

Poland V Gibraltar

8-1

Republic of Ireland v Georgia

1-0

Scotland v Germany

2-3

OctB

Georgia v Gibraltar

4-0

Republic of Ireland v Germany

1-0

Scotland v Poland

2-2

Octli

Germany v Georgia

2-1

Gibraltar v Scotland

0-6

Poland V Republic of Ireland

2-1

Group E

Oct 9 -London

England 2 (Walcott 45, Sterling 85)

Estonia 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 75,427. Ref: Vad (Hun)

England: Hart - Clyne, Cahill, Smalling,

Bertrand, Barkley (Alii 88), Milner, Lallana
(Oxiade-Chamberlain 73), Walcott (Vardy 82),
Kane, Sterling.

Estonia: Aksalu - Teniste, Jaager, Klavan, Pikk,
Kallaste (Luts 88), Dmitrijev (Lindpere 70), Mets,
Zenjov, Purje (S Puri 70), Vassiljev.

Oct 9 - Ljubljana
Slovenia 1 (Birsa pen 45+1 )

Lithuania 1 (Novikovas pen 79)

HT: 1-0. Att: 10,498. Ref: Kuipers (Hoi)
Slovenia: S Handanovic - Struna, Hie, Cesar,
Jokic, Krhin, Kurtic, Birsa, Hide (Matavz 90),
Lazarevic (Pecnik 73), Beric (Ljubijankic 62).
Lithuania: Zubas - Freidgeimas, Zaliukas
(Mikuckis 90), Klimavicius, Slavickas, Cernych
(D Cesnauskis 63), Panka, Zulpa, Novikovas,
Spalvis, Slivka (Petravicius 69).

Oct 9 - St Gallen

Switzerland 7 (Lang 17, Inler pen 55,

Mehmedi 65, Djourou pen 72, Kasami 75,
Embolo pen 80, Derdiyok 89)

San Marino 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 16,200. Ref: Gestranius (Fin)
Switzerland: Burki - Lang, Schar, Djourou,
Rodriguez (Moubandje 62), Zuffi, Inler, Kasami,
Embolo, Drmic (Steffen 78), Mehmedi
(Derdiyok 68).

San Marino: A Simoncini - Cesarini (F Vitaioli
78), Alessandro Della Valle, D Simoncini,

Palazzi, Berardi, M Vitaioli, Tosi, L Gasperoni
(Coppini 64), E Golinucci (Hirsch 83), Stefanelli.

OctU - Tallinn

Estonia 0

Switzerland 1 (Klavan og 90+4)

HT: 0-0. Att: 7,304. Ref: Van Boekel (Hoi)
Estonia: Aksalu - Teniste, Jaager, Klavan, Pikk,

S Puri (Lindpere 67), Mets, Antonov, Kallaste
(Luts 80), Zenjov (Purje 61 ), Vassiljev.
Switzerland: Hitz - Lang, Djourou, Lustenberger,
Moubandje, Inler, Dzemaili, Xhaka (Kasami 80),
Shaqiri (Embolo 46), Derdiyok, Mehmedi
(Steffen 71).

OctU - Vilnius

Lithuania 0

England 3 (Barkley 29, Arlauskis og 35,
Oxiade-Chamberlain 62)

HT: 0-2. Att: 5,051. Ref: Hansen (Den)
Lithuania: Arlauskis - Freidgeimas, Mikuckis,
Klimavicius, Andriuskevicius (Vaitkunas 82),
Novikovas (Petravicius 63), Panka, Zulpa,
Cernych, Slivka, Spalvis (Matulevicius 86).
England: Butland - Walker, Jones, Jagielka,

Gibbs, Shelvey, Oxiade-Chamberlain, Lallana
(Alii 67), Barkley (Townsend 73), Vardy, Kane
(Ings 59).

WORLD SOCCER 89

RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

Oct12 - Serravalle

San Marino 0

Slovenia 2 (Cesar 54, Pecnik 75)

HT: 0-0. Att: 781. Ref: Stavrev (Mac)

San Marino: A Simoncini - C Valentini
(Alessandro Della Valle 73), Brolli, D Simoncini,
Palazzi, Battistini, A Gasperoni, Chiaruzzi,

M Vitaioli (Mazza 90), Hirsch, Selva (Rinaldi 71 ).
Slovenia: Oblak - Struna, Samardzic, Cesar,
Jokic, Birsa, Krhin, Kurtic, Kirm (Lazarevic 70),
Beric (Matavz 46), Hide (Pecnik 46).

1 EURO 2016 QUALIFIERS - GROUP E - FINAL I
1 P W D L F A Pts 1

England (QF) 10 10 0 0 31 3 30

Switz'land (QF) 10 7 0 3 24 8 21

Slovenia (QP) 10 5 1 4 18 11 16

Estonia

10 3 16^

4 9 10

Lithuania 10 3 16'

7 18 10

San Marino 10 0 19

1 36 1

2014

Sep 8

Estonia v Slovenia

1-0

San Marino v Lithuania

0-2

Switzerland v England

0-2

Oct 9

England v San Marino

5-0

Lithuania v Estonia

1-0

Slovenia v Switzerland

1-0

Oct 12

Estonia v England

0-1

Lithuania v Slovenia

0-2

Oct 14

San Marino v Switzerland

0-4

Nov 15

England v Slovenia

3-1

San Marino v Estonia

0-0

Switzerland v Lithuania

4-0

2015

Mar 27

England v Lithuania

4-0

Slovenia v San Marino

6-0

Switzerland v Estonia

3-0

Jun 14

Estonia v San Marino

2-0

Lithuania v Switzerland

1-2

Slovenia v England

2-3

Sep 5

Estonia v Lithuania

1-0

San Marino v England

0-6

Switzerland v Slovenia

3-2

Sep 8

England v Switzerland

2-0

Lithuania v San Marino

2-1

Slovenia v Estonia

1-0

Oct 9

England v Estonia

2-0

Slovenia v Lithuania

1-1

Switzerland v San Marino

7-0

Oct 12

Estonia v Switzerland

0-1

Lithuania v England

0-3

San Marino v Slovenia

0-2

Group F

Oct 8 - Budapest
Hungary 2 (Bode 63, 71 )

Faroe Islands 1 (Jakobsen 11 )

HT: 0-1. Att: 16,500. Ref: Schorgenhofer (Aut)
Hungary: Kiraly - Fiola, Juhasz, Guzmics,

Kadar, Bodi (Bode 46), Nagy, Gera, Tozser
(Nemeth 46), Dzsudzsak, Nikolic (Priskin 75).
Faroe Islands: Nielsen - Naes, Nattestad
(Faero 84), Gregersen, V Davidsen, R Joensen
(Sorensen 78), Jakobsen (P Justinussen 62),
Baldvinsson, Vatnhamar, Bartalsstovu,
Edmundsson. Sent off: Gregersen 90+4.

Oct 8 - Belfast

Northern Ireland 3 (Davis 35, 58,

Magennis 49)

Greece 1 (Aravidis 87)

HT: 1-0. Att: 11,700. Ref: Nijhuis (Hoi)

Northern Ireland: McGovern - McNair
(McCullough 85), McAuley, Cathcart, Brunt,

Ward (McGinn 81 ), Norwood, C Evans, Davis,
Dallas, Magennis (Boyce 78).

Greece: Karnezis - Torosidis, Moras,
Papastathopoulos, Holebas, Samaris, Karelis
(Mantalos 65), Tziolis, Kone (Pelkas 71 ), Aravidis,
Mitroglou (Athanasiadis 76).

Oct 8 - Bucharest
Romania 1 (Hoban 90+1 )

Finland 1 (Pohjanpalo 67)

HT: 0-0. Att: 47,987. Ref: Thomson (Sco)
Romania: Tatarusanu - Papp, Chiriches,

D Grigore, Rat, Hoban, Torje (Popa 87),
Sanmartean, Chipciu (Maxim 60), Stancu
(Andone 69), Keseru.

Finland: Hradecky - Arkivuo (Jalasto 64),
Arajuuri (Toivio 62), Moisander, Uronen, Ring,
Halsti, Schuller, P Hetemaj, Pukki, Pohjanpalo
(Hamalainen 77).

j Octll - Torshavn

Oct 9 - Chisinau

Faroe Islands 0

Moldova 1 (Cebotaru 85)

Romania 3 (Budescu 4, 45+1, Maxim 83)

Russia 2 (Ignashevich 58, Dzyuba 78)

HT: 0-2. Att: 3,941. Ref: Kruziiak (SIk)

HT: 0-0. Att: 10,244. Ref: Koukoulakis (Gre)

Faroe Islands: Nielsen - Naes, Faero, Nattestad

Moldova: Koselev - Jardan, Burghiu, Armas,

(Baldvinsson 84), Sorensen, Holst (A Olsen 69),

Bordian, Cebotaru, Spataru, Carp (Vremea 70),

Hansson, Vatnhamar (Frederiksberg 69),

Onica (Ambros 79), Antoniuc, Milinceanu

Hendriksson, Bartalsstovu, Edmundsson.

(Istrati 88).

Romania: Tatarusanu - Matel, Chiriches,

Russia: Akinfeev - Smolnikov (Kuzmin 27),

D Grigore, Rat, Hoban, Popa, Budescu

A Berezutsky, Ignashevich, D Kombarov, Denisov,

(Prepelita 88), Pintilii, Torje (Maxim 78),

Mamaev, Shatov, Shirokov (Glushakov 76),

Stancu (Alibec 90).

Kokorin, Dzyuba (Smolov 88).

OctV - Helsinki

Oct 9 - Podgorica

Finland 1 (Arajuuri 87)

Montenegro 2 (Vucinic 32, BeciraJ 68)

Northern Ireland 1 (Cathcart 31 )

Austria 3 (Janko 55, Arnautovic 81,

HT: 0-1. Att: 14,550. Ref: Karasev (Rus)

Sabitzer 90+2)

Finland: Hradecky -Jalasto, Arajuuri, J OJala,

HT: 1-0. Att: 7107. Ref: Orsato (Ita)

Uronen, Ring (Lod 44), Mattila, Span/, Schuller

Montenegro: Poleksic - Rodic, Savic, Simic,

(Hamalainen 79), Pohjanpalo, Sadik (Pukki 66).

Tomasevic (Balic 74), N Vukcevic, Boljevic

Northern Ireland: McGovern - McNair

(Zverotic 56), Marusic, Mugosa (Mandic 64),

(C McLaughlin 51 ), McAuley, Cathcart, Brunt,

BeciraJ, Vucinic. Sent off: Vucinic 87.

Norwood, Baird, Davis, McGinn (Ferguson 71 ),

Austria: Aimer - Klein, ProdI, Dragovic, Fuchs,

K Lafferty (Magennis 79), Dallas.

Harnik, Baumgartlinger, Alaba (Jantscher 82),

Arnautovic, Junuzovic (Sabitzer 82), Janko

Octll - Piraeus

(Okotie 82).

Greece 4 (Stafylidis 5, Tachtsidis 57,

Mitroglou 79, Kone 86)

Oct12 - Vienna

Hungary 3 (Lovrencsics 26, Nemeth 55, 75)

Austria 3 (Arnautovic 12, Janko 54, 57)

HT: 1-1. Att: 9,500. Ref: Bebek (Cro)

Liechtenstein 0

Greece: Karnezis - Kitsiou, Papastathopoulos

HT: 1-0. Att: 48,500. Ref: Zelinka (CzR)

(Tzanetpoulos 64), Moras, Stafylidis (Holebas

Austria: Aimer - Klein, ProdI, Dragovic, Fuchs,

35), Mantalos (Kone 72), Samaris, Fortounis,

Baumgartlinger (llsanker 71 ), Alaba (Sabitzer

Tachtsidis, Pelkas, Mitroglou.

64), Harnik, Junuzovic, Arnautovic, Janko

Hungary: Kiraly - Fiola, Juhasz, Kadar, Leandro,

(Okotie 64).

Lovrencsics (Nikolic 62), Gera (Nagy 71 ), Elek,

Liechtenstein: Jehle - Rechsteiner, Frick

(Kuhne 90), Kaufmann, Oehri (Brandle 46),

1 Dzsudzsak (Kalmar 71 ), Bode, Nemeth.

N Kieber (Yildiz 62), Martin Buchel, Polverino,

■ EURO 2016 QUALIFIERS - GROUP F - FINAL ■

Wieser, Burgmeier, Marcel Buchel.

■ P W D L F A

Pts I

N Ireland (QF) 10 6 3 1 16 8

21

Oct12 - Moscow

Romania (QF) 10 5 5 0 11 2

20

Russia 2 (Kuzmin 33, Kokorin pen 37)

Hungary (QP) 10 4 4 2 11 9

16

Montenegro 0

Finland 10 3 3 4 9 10 12

HT: 2-0. Att: 35,604. Ref: Moen (Nor)

Faroe Islands 10 2 0 8 6 17 6

Russia: Akinfeev - Kuzmin, A Berezutsky,

Greece 10 1 3 6 7 14 6

Ignashevich, D Kombarov, Kokorin, Shirokov,

Denisov, Dzagoev (Cheryshev 86), Shatov

2014

(Mamaev 69), Dzyuba (Smolov 84).

Sep 7 Faroe Islands v Finland

1-3

Montenegro: Mijatovic - Savic, SaveIJich, Simic,

Greece v Romania

0-1

Balic, Rodic (Marusic 67), Kascelan, Nikolic

Hungary v Northern Ireland

1-2

(Mugosa 46), N Vukcevic (Boljevic 85), Mandic,

Oct 11 Finland v Greece

1-1

BeciraJ.

Northern Ireland v Faroe Islands 2-0

Romania v Hungary

1-1

Oct12 - Stockholm

Oct 14 Faroe Islands v Hungary

0-1

Sweden 2 (Ibrahimovic 23, Zengin 47)

Finland v Romania

0-2

Moldova 0

Greece v Northern Ireland

0-2

HT: 1-0. Att: 25,351. Ref: Banti (Ita)

Nov 14 Greece v Faroe Islands

0-1

Sweden: Isaksson - Lustig (Tinnerholm 83),

Hungary v Finland

1-0

Granqvist, Antonsson, M Olsson, S Larsson,

Romania v Northern Ireland

2-0

Lewicki, Kallstrom (Svensson 57), Zengin,

2015

Ibrahimovic (Toivonen 57), Guidetti.

Mar 29 Hungary v Greece

0-0

Moldova: Cebanu - Jardan (Spataru 80),

Northern Ireland v Finland

2-1

Burghiu, Golovatenco, Erhan (Armas 63),

Romania v Faroe Islands

1-0

Potirniche, Bordian, Vremea, Cebotaru, Patras

Jun 13 Faroe Islands v Greece

2-1

(Antoniuc 61 ), Istrati.

Finland v Hungary

0-1

Northern Ireland v Romania

0-0

■ EURO 2016 QUALIFIERS - GROUP G - FINAL ■

Sep 4 Faroe Islands v Northern Ireland

1-3

1 PWDLFAPtsI

Greece v Finland

0-1

Austria (QF) 10 9 1 0 22 5 28

Hungary v Romania

0-0

Russia (QF) 10 6 2 2 21 5 20

Sep 7 Finland v Faroe Islands

1-0

Sweden (QP) 10 5 3 2 15 9 18

Northern Ireland v Hungary

1-1

Montenegro 10 3 2 5 10 13 11

Romania v Greece

0-0

Liechtenstein 10 1 2 7 2 26 5

Oct 8 Hungary v Faroe Islands

2-1

Moldova 10 0 2 8 4 16 2

Northern Ireland v Greece

3-1

Romania v Finland

1-1

2014

Oct 11 Faroe Islands v Romania

0-3

Sep 8 Austria v Sweden 1-1

Finland v Northern Ireland

1-1

Montenegro v Moldova 2-0

Greece v Hungary

4-3

Russia V Liechtenstein 4-0

Oct 9 Liechtenstein v Montenegro 0-0

Group G

Moldova V Austria 1-2

Oct 9 -Vaduz

Sweden v Russia 1-1

Liechtenstein 0

Oct 12 Austria v Montenegro 1-0

Sweden 2 (Berg 18, Ibrahimovic 55)

Russia V Moldova 1-1

HT: 0-1. Att: 4,740. Ref: Liany (Isr)

Sweden v Liechtenstein 2-0

Liechtenstein: Jehle - Rechsteiner, Frick, Wieser,

Nov 15 Austria v Russia 1-0

Oehri, A Christen (N Kieber 83), Martin Buchel,

Moldova V Liechtenstein 0-1

Polverino (Gubser 59), Marcel Buchel,

Montenegro v Sweden 1-1

Burgmeier, Kuhne (Yildiz 72).

2015

Sweden: Isaksson - Lustig, Antonsson, Granqvist,

Mar 27 Liechtenstein v Austria 0-5

M Olsson, Ekdal (Lewicki 66), Kallstrom, Durmaz

Moldova V Sweden 0-2

(S Larsson 69), Ibrahimovic, Zengin, Berg

Montenegro v Russia (awarded) 0-3

(Guidetti 62).

Jun 14 Liechtenstein v Moldova 1-1

Russia V Austria 0-1

Sweden v Montenegro 3-1

Sep 5 Austria v Moldova 1-0

Montenegro v Liechtenstein 2-0

Russia V Sweden 1-0

Sep 8

Liechtenstein v Russia

0-7

Moldova V Montenegro

0-2

Sweden v Austria

1-4

Oct 9

Liechtenstein v Sweden

0-2

Moldova V Russia

1-2

Montenegro v Austria

2-3

Oct 12

Austria v Liechtenstein

3-0

Russia V Montenegro

2-0

Sweden v Moldova

2-0

Group

H

OctIO-

Baku

Azerbaijan 1 (Nazarov 31 )

Italy 3 (Eder 11, El Shaarawy 43, Darmian 65)
HT: 1-2. Att: 48,000. Ref: Collum (Sco)
Azerbaijan: K Agayev - Medvedev, B Huseynov,
R F Sadygov, Dashdemirov, Qarayev, Ismayilov
(Mirzabekov 90+1 ), Eddy (R A Sadygov 66),
Amirguliyev, Nazarov, R Kurbanov (Erat 74).

Sent off: B Huseynov 88.

Italy: Buffon - Darmian, Bonucci, Chiellini,

De Sciglio, Candreva (Montolivo 88), Verratti,
Parolo, El Shaarawy (Florenzi 74), Pelle, Eder
(Giovinco 79).

OctIO- Zagreb

Croatia 3 (Perisic 2, Rakitic 42, N Kalinic 81 )

Bulgaria 0

HT: 2-0. Played behind closed doors.

Ref: Dias (Por)

Croatia: Subasic - Srna, Corluka, Vida, Pivaric,
Perisic, Modric (BadelJ 46), Rakitic, Kovacic,

PJaca (Cop 60), N Kalinic (Kramaric 85).

Sent off: Cop 89.

Bulgaria: Mitrev - S Popov, Terziev (Ivo Ivanov
46), A Aleksandrov, Z Milanov, Nedelev
(G Milanov 46), Slavchev, Zlatinski, Tonev,

I Popov (M Aleksandrov 71 ), Rangelov.

OctIO - Oslo

Norway 2 (Tettey 19, Soderlund 52)

Malta 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 27120. Ref: Hunter (Nl)

Norway: Nyland - Elabdellaoui, Hovland, Forren,
Aleesami, Skjelbred (Odegaard 53), Tettey,
Johansen, Berget (Valon Berisha 84), Henriksen,
Soderlund (King 77).

Malta: Hogg - S Borg (Camilleri 83), Z Muscat,

A Muscat (Zerafa 56), Fail la, P Fenech, R Muscat,
Agius, Briffa, Effiong, Schembri (Kristensen 81 ).

Oct13 - Sofia

Bulgaria 2 (M Aleksandrov 20, Rangelov 56)

Azerbaijan 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 2,500. Ref: Bognar (Hun)

Bulgaria: Mitrev - Z Milanov, A Aleksandrov,

Ivo Ivanov, Y Minev, G Milanov, Dyakov, Zlatinski,
M Aleksandrov (Slavchev 80), I Popov
(V Hristov 65), Rangelov (Nedelev 88).
Azerbaijan: K Agayev - Mirzabekov, Abishov,

R F Sadygov, Medvedev (Dashdemirov 63),
Ismayilov, Amirguliyev, Qarayev (Eddy 82),
Nazarov, Jafarov (Erat 67), R Kurbanov.

Oct13 - Rome

Italy 2 (Florenzi 73, Pelle 82)

Norway 1 (Tettey 23)

HT: 0-1. Att: 30,000. Ref: Brych (Ger)

Italy: Buffon - Barzagli (Candreva 72),

Bonucci, Chiellini, Darmian, Florenzi, Montolivo
(Bertolacci 68), Soriano, De Sciglio, Pelle, Eder
(Giovinco 62).

Norway: Nyland - Elabdellaoui, Hovland,

Forren, Aleesami, Johansen, Tettey, Skjelbred
(Samuelsen 51 ), Henriksen, Berget
(Valon Berisha 78), Soderlund (King 60).

Oct13 - Valletta

Malta 0

Croatia 1 (Perisic 25)

HT: 0-1. Att: 5,835. Ref: Clattenburg (Eng)
Malta: Hogg - Z Muscat, S Borg, Agius, Zerafa,

R Muscat, Schembri (Cohen 90+2), Briffa
(P Fenech 79), Kristensen, Failla, Effiong
(M Mifsud 75).

Croatia: Subasic - Vida, Corluka, Srna, BadelJ,

N Kalinic (Kramaric 60), Kovacic, Pivaric, Rakitic
(Brozovic 77), Perisic, PJaca (Olic 83).

1 EURO 2016 QUALIFIERS

- GROUP H -

FINAL

P

w

D

L

F

A

Pts

Italy (QF)

10

7

3

0

16

7

24

Croatia^ (QF)

10

6

3

1

20

5

20

Norway (QP)

10

6

1

3

13

10

19

Bulgaria

10

3

2

5

9

12

11

Azerbaijan

10

1

3

6

7

18

6

Malta

10

0

2

8

3

16

2

' Ipt deducted after a swastika was painted on
the pitch before the home game against Italy

90 WORLD SOCCER

RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

2014

2014

Sep 9

Azerbaijan v Bulgaria

1-2

Sep 7

Denmark v Armenia

2-1

Croatia v Malta

2-0

Portugal v Albania

0-1

Norway v Italy

0-2

Octll

Albania v Denmark

1-1

OctIO

Bulgaria v Croatia

0-1

Armenia v Serbia

1-1

Italy V Azerbaijan

2-1

Oct 14

Denmark v Portugal

0-1

Malta V Norway

0-3

Serbia v Albania

(awarded) 0-3

Oct 13

Croatia v Azerbaijan

6-0

Nov 14

Portugal v Armenia

1-0

Malta V Italy

0-1

Serbia v Denmark

1-3

Norway v Bulgaria

2-1

2015

Nov 16

Azerbaijan v Norway

0-1

Mar 29

Albania v Armenia

2-1

Bulgaria v Malta

1-1

Portugal v Serbia

2-1

Italy V Croatia

1-1

Junl3

Armenia v Portugal

2-3

2015

Denmark v Serbia

2-0

Mar 28

Azerbaijan v Malta

2-0

Sep 4

Denmark v Albania

0-0

Bulgaria v Italy

2-2

Serbia v Armenia

2-0

Croatia v Norway

5-1

Sep 7

Albania v Portugal

0-1

Junl2

Croatia v Italy

1-1

Armenia v Denmark

0-0

Malta V Bulgaria

0-1

Oct 8

Albania v Serbia

0-2

Norway v Azerbaijan

0-0

Portugal v Denmark

1-0

Sep 3

Azerbaijan v Croatia

0-0

Octll

Armenia v Albania

0-3

Bulgaria v Norway

0-1

Serbia v Portugal

1-2

Italy V Malta

1-0

Sep 6

Italy V Bulgaria

1-0

• The top 2 in each group and the 3rd-placed tean

Malta V Azerbaijan

2-2

with the best record (Turkey; see table below)

Norway v Croatia

2-0

have qualified for the 24-team finals; the other 8

OctIO

Azerbaijan v Italy

1-3

3rd-placed teams qualified for the play-offs. Hosti

Croatia v Bulgaria

3-0

France qualify for the finals automatically

Norway v Malta

2-0

Oct 13

Bulgaria v Azerbaijan

2-0

■ 3RD-PLACED TEAMS' RANKING^ - FINAL

Italy V Norway

2-1

■

P W D

L F A Pts

Malta V Croatia

0-1

Turkey (QF) 8 5 1

2 12 7 16

Group I

Oct8-Elbasan

Albania 0

Serbia 2 (Kolarov 90+1, Ljajic 90+4)

HT: 0-0. Att: 12,330. Ref: Rizzoli (Ita)

Albania: Berisha - Hysaj, Cana, Djimsiti, Agolli,
Memushaj, M Basha, Xhaka, Lila (Kace 46),
Balaj (Cikalleshi 69), Lenjani (Meha 83).
Serbia: Stojkovic - Tomovic, Ivanovic
(D Tosic 65), S Mitrovic, Kolarov, Milivojevic,
Malic (Fejsa 73), Z Tosic, Ljajic, Tadic
(Sulejmani 54), A Mitrovic.

Hungary (QP) 8
Ukraine (QP) 8
Norway (QP) 8
Denmark (QP) 8
Sweden (QP) 8
R Ireland (QP) 8
Bosnia-H(QP) 8
Slovenia (QP) 8

1 8 5 15

11 4 13

8 10 13

8 5 12

11 9 12

8 7 12

11 12 11

1 4 10 11 10

^Determined by results against the teams
finishingist, 2nd, 4th 5 5th in the respective
quali^ing groups

Play-offs draw

Oct 8 - Braga

Portugal 1 (Joao Moutinho 66)

Denmark 0

HT: 0-0. Att: 29,860. Ref: Clattenburg (Eng)
Portugal: Rui Patricio - Cedric, Bruno Alves,
Ricardo Carvalho, Fabio Coentrao, Joao Moutinho
(Jose Fonte 90+1 ), Danilo Pereira, Tiago,
Bernardo Silva (Danny 76), Cristiano Ronaldo,
Nani (Quaresma 82).

Denmark: Schmeichel - Jacobsen, Kjaer, Agger,
Durmisi, Wass (N Jorgensen 69), Hojbjerg
(Kvist 46), Krohn-Dehli, Braithwaite, Bendtner,
Eriksen (Y Poulsen 82).

OctTI - Yerevan

Armenia 0

Albania 3 (Hovhannisyan og 9, Djimsiti 23,
Sadiku 76)

HT: 0-2. Att: 4,700. Ref: Marciniak (Pol)
Armenia: Kasparov - Hovhannisyan,
Arzumanyan, Haroyan, Andonian, Mkhitaryan,
Yuspashyan (Ozbiliz 46), Pizzelli, Mkrtchyan,
Ghazaryan (V Pogosyan 83), Movsisyan
(Sarkisov 59).

Albania: Berisha - Aliji, Cana, Djimsiti, Hysaj,

M Basha (Abrashi 87), Xhaka, Memushaj
(Kukeli 72), Roshi, Cikalleshi (Sadiku 58), Gashi.

Bosnia-Herzegovina v Republic of Ireland
(1st leg - Nov 13; 2nd leg - Nov 16)
Norway v Hungary (Nov 12 & Nov 15)
Sweden v Denmark (Nov 14 & Nov 17)
Ukraine v Slovenia (Nov 14 & Nov 17)

• Winners qualify for the finals

2017 CONFEDERATIONS CUP

Qualifying play-off

(2013 Gold Cup winners. United States v
2015 Gold Cup winners, Mexico)

OctIO - Pasadena

United States 2 (Cameron 15, Wood 108)
Mexico 3 (J Hernandez 10, Peralta 96,

Aguilar 118)

Aet HT: 1-1. 90mins: 1-1. Att: 93,723.

Ref: Aguilar (ESv)

United States: Guzan - F Johnson (Evans 111 ),
Cameron, Besler, Beasley, Beckerman, Jones,
Bradley, Zardes (Yedlin 78), Dempsey, Altidore
(Wood 98).

Mexico: Munoz - Aguilar, Moreno, Reyes,
Layun, Guardado (Guemez 80), Marquez
(Rivas 76), H Herrera, R Jimenez, J Hernandez
(J M Corona 97), Peralta.

• Mexico will represent CONCACAF at the 2017
Confederations Cup in Russia

Octll - Belgrade
Serbia 1 (Z Tosic 65)

Portugal 2 (Nani 5, Joao Moutinho 78)

HT: 0-1. Att: 7485. Ref: Fernandez Borbalan (Spa)
Serbia: Stojkovic - Tomovic, S Mitrovic,

D Tosic, Kolarov (Obradovic 77), Z Tosic
(Sulejmani 84), Milivojevic, Ljajic, Matic,

Tadic, A Mitrovic (Skuletic 85).

Sent off: Kolarov (from the bench) 80, Matic 81
Portugal: Rui Patricio - Nelson Semedo, Jose
Fonte, Bruno Alves (Luis Neto 46), Eliseu, Andre
Andre, Danilo Pereira, Miguel Veloso (Joao
Moutinho 70), Nani, Danny (Eder 57), Quaresma.

FRIENDLIES

Wednesday, September 30

Sep 30 - Gaborone
Botswana 2 (Mogorosi 44, 67)

Ethiopia 3 (Dawit Fekadu 5, Seyoum 41, 47)
HT: 1-2

Friday, October 2

Oct 2 -Muscat

Oman 2 (Q Said 42, Mubarak pen 75)

Syria 1 (AlJafal 90)

EURO 2016 QUALIFIERS - GROUP I - FINAL

P

w

D

L

F

A

Pts

Portugal (QF) 8

7

0

1

11

5

21

Albania (QF) 8

4

2

2

10

5

14

Denmark (QP) 8

3

3

2

8

5

12

Serbia^ 8

2

1

5

8

13

4

Armenia 8

0

2

6

5

14

2

'3pts deducted for the fan violence that led to the

abandonment of the home game against Albania

HT: 1-0

Saturday, October 3

Oct 3 - Amman

Jordan 3 (Al Dardour 65, 78, Saeed og 80)

Iraq 0

HT: 0-0

Thursday, October 8

Oct 8 - San Jose
Costa Rica 0
South Africa 1 (Jali 9)

HT: 0-1. Att: 35,000. Ref: Penaloza (Mex)

Costa Rica: Navas - Acosta, Calvo (Aguilar 55),
Borges, Duarte, Venegas (Colindres 61 ),

Campbell (Vega 84), Oviedo, Gamboa, Tejeda
(Guzman 73), Urena (Matarrita 90).

South Africa: Khune - Ngcongca, Coetzee,
Mathoho, Lebusa (Mashaba 59), Jali, Zungu,
Masango, Serero (Patosi 87), Lebese
(Hlatshwayo 78), Vilakazi (Mokotjo 70).

Oct 8 - Nice

France 4 (Griezmann 35, Cabaye 55,

Benzema 78, 79)

Armenia 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 32,136. Ref: Vincic (Sin)

France: Lloris - Sagna, Varane, Sakho, Evra,
Cabaye (Sissoko 77), L Diarra, Matuidi
(Schneiderlin 63), Griezmann (Lacazette 88),
Benzema (Giroud 81 ), Valbuena (Martial 63).
Armenia: Kasparov - Hambardzumyan (Manoyan
70), T Voskanyan, Andonian, Hayrapetyan,
Hovhannisyan (V Pogosyan 61 ), Yuspashyan,
Mkhitaryan (Pizzelli 61 ), Mkrtchyan (Grigoryan
80), Ghazaryan (Aslanyan 67), Sarkisov
(Ozbiliz 54).

Oct 8 - Tegucigalpa
Honduras 1 (Bengtson 3)

Guatemala 1 (Tinoco 50)

HT: 1-0. Att: 5,000. Ref: Rodriguez (Hnd)
Honduras: Valladares - Beckeles (Crisanto 78),
Johnny Palacios, M Figueroa, Oseguera, 0 Garcia
(Tejeda 70), Morazan, A Mejia (Mendez 59),
Discua (M Martinez 59), Andino, Bengtson
(Castillo 70).

Guatemala: P Motta - Vasquez, Lalin, Tinoco
(Guerra 63), Hernandez, Lopez (Gallardo 64),

De Leon, Cincotta (Archila 80; Herrarte 86),
Contreras (Rodas 63), Thompson, C Ruiz
(Castellanos 46).

Oct 8 - Bangkok, Thailand
Laosl (Khanthavong pen 82)

Malaysia 3 (Christie 50, 90+2, Azamuddin 53)
HT: 0-0

Oct 8 - Vise, Belgium

Nigeria 0

DR Congo 2 (Mbokani 5, Nkololo 31 )

HT: 0-2. Att: 700. Ref: Gumienny (Big)

Nigeria: Ikeme - Echiejile, Troost-Ekong,

Balogun, Abdullahi, Mikel, Onazi (Ndidi 83),
Ibrahim (Emenike 46), Igbonu (Simon 46), Musa
(Iwobi 56), Ighalo (Obiora 65).

DR Congo: Mandanda - Oualembo, Mongongu,
Mbemba, Nsakala, Mulumba, Maghoma
(Bokila 80), Bolasie (Mubele 89), Mabwati
(Botaka 73), Nkololo (Kamavuaka 66),

Mbokani (Kabananga 82).

Oct 8 - Panama City
Panama 1 (Pimentel 60)

Trinidad & Tobago 2 (K Jones 34, Abu Bakr 51 )
HT: 0-1. Att: 12,000. Ref: Matamoros (Hnd)
Panama: Penedo (Mejia 46) - Cooper (Parris
46), Baloy, Machado, Davis (L Henriquez 62),
Gomez, Godoy (Addles 62), Pimentel, Quintero,
Nurse (G Torres 79), Tejada (Blackburn 62).
Trinidad & Tobago: Phillip - Bateau (Cyrus 55),
Abu Bakr, Hoyte (David 69), M Williams,

J Jones (Hackshaw 78), Hyland, Boucaud
(George 65), Cummings, Glenn (Caesar 46),

K Jones (Plaza 80).

Friday, October 9

Oct 9 -Algiers
Algeria 1 (Slimani 2)

Guinea 2 (A Bangoura 16, 39)

HT: 1-2. Att: 30,000. Ref: Hussein (Sud)

Algeria: Doukha - Hachoud, Tahrat (Belkaroui
63), Medjani, Ghoulam, Feghouli, Abeid
(Mesloub 46), Taider, Mahrez, Soudani
(Bounedjah 80), Slimani (Brahimi 61 ).

Sent off: Ghoulam 90+6.

Guinea: N Yattara - F Camara, Diop, Issiaga
Sylla, Conde (S Keita 46), Constant (Sorry 89),
Idrissa Sylla, N Keita (Diarra 82), A Bangoura
(Diallo 61 ), Conte (L Camara 71 ), Sankoh.

Oct 9- Troyes, France
Burkina Faso 1 (Bance 21 )

Mali 4 (Sako 7, pen 18, Maiga 52, Wague 67)

HT: 1-2. Att: 1,514. Ref: Ennjimi (Fra)

Oct 9 - Houston, USA
El Salvador 1 (Punyed 37)

Haiti 3 (Marcelin 14, Printemps 18, Maurice 21 )
HT: 1-3. Ref: Salazar (USA)

El Salvador: H Hernandez - Garcia, Mendoza,
Molina, Larin, D Ceren (N Orellana 85), Menjivar
(Renderos 46), Alvarez (Herrera 85), Jaime Alas
(A Flores 74), Punyed (Pena 58), N Bonilla.

Haiti: Placide - Christian, Jerome, Aveska,
Alcenat, Alexandre (Constant 74), Millien,
Marcelin, Printemps (Thuriere 46), Nazon
(Belfort 72), Maurice (Jean-Baptiste 61 ).

Oct 9 -Agadir

Morocco 0

Ivory Coast 1 (Doumbia 60)

HT: 0-0. Att: 22,000. Ref: Essrayri (Tun)
Morocco: Munir - Chafik, El Adoua, Feddal,
Lazaar, Obbadi (Moutouali 74), El Ahmadi
(Saadane 86), Dirar, Ziyech (Belhanda 66),
Barrada (El Kaddouri 62), El Arabi
(Hamdallah 66).

Ivory Coast: Gbohouo - Bagayoko, L Kone
(Deli 46), Bailly (Viera 52), Djakpa (Aurier 70),
Serey Die, Diomande (Doumbia 46), Serri, Kalou
(Cyriac 86), Sio (Akpa Akpro 46), Gervinho.

Oct 9 -Taipei

Taiwan 5 (Wen Chih-hao 22, Chen Hao-wei 42, 71,
Xavier Chen 61, Chu En-le 68)

Macau 1 (Lam Ka Seng 17)

HT: 2-1

Oct 9 -Bangkok

Thailand 1 (Theerathon pen 90+2)

Hong Kong 0

HT: 0-0

Oct9-Rades

Tunisia 3 (Khenissi 3, Camus 35, Khazri 50)
Gabon 3 (Aubameyang pen 33, Lemina 63,
Kanga 86)

HT: 2-1. Att: 5,000. Ref: Jedidi (Tun)

Tunisia: A Mathlouthi (Ben Mustapha 57) -
H Mathlouthi, S Ben Youssef, Jemal, Maaloul,
Meriah, Sassi, Khazri (Ouedherfi 82), Msakni
(Khalifa 67), Khenissi (Yahia 54), Camus
(Lahmar 67).

Gabon: Ovono - Palun, Ecuele Manga,
Appindangoye, Ze Ondo, Lemina (Mbingui 78),
Biyogo Poko (Tandjigora 46), Kanga,
Aubameyang, Evouna (Lengoualama 82),

Bulot (Madinda 46).

Saturday, October 10

OctIO - Pristina
Kosovo 2 (Brahimi 2, 47)

Equatorial Guinea 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 6,000. Ref: Jorgji (Alb)

Kosovo: Ujkani - Pacarada (Markaj 56),

I Berisha (Jashanica 84), Sadiku, Perdedaj
(Abazi 84), Halimi, Zejnullahu, Bunjaku, Brahimi
(Sulejmani 56), B Berisha (Hasani 56), Fejzullahu
(Krasniqi 64).

Equatorial Guinea: Ovono - Igor Engonga, Rui,
Mbele, Randy (Eloy 62), Raul Fabiani (Maquina
46), Boriba (Evuy 62), Kike (Doualla 46), Sisinio,
Josete (Lolin 78), Ivan Zarandona (Deco 85).

Sent off: Mbele 38.

Sunday, October 11

Octll - Copenhagen
Denmark 1 (Sviatchenko 90+1 )

France 2 (Giroud 4, 6)

HT: 0-2. Att: 15,000. Ref: Eriksson (Swe)
Denmark: Schmeichel - Jacobsen, Kjaer
(Sviatchenko 73), Agger (Vestergard 86),

Durmisi, Kvist, J Poulsen (Hojbjerg 46),
Braithwaite (Sisto 70), Eriksen (Y Poulsen 61 ),
Krohn-Dehli (N Jorgensen 56), Bendtner.

France: Mandanda - Jallet, Varane (Zouma 46),
Mangala, Digne, Sissoko, Schneiderlin, Matuidi,
Griezmann (Valbuena 78), Giroud (Lacazette
73), Martial (Cabaye 88).

Octll -Abu Dhabi, UAF

Egypt 3 (Koka 3, 48, Gamal 90+4)

Zambia 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 4,000. Ref: Al Zarouni (UAE)

Egypt: El Shenawy - Gaber, Rabia, Hegazy,
Abdel-Shafy, El Nenny, Hamed (Zakaria 46),
Kahraba (Warda 46), M Salah (Mekky 82),

Koka (El Said 64), Morsi (Gamal 46).

Zambia: Mweene - Chepeshi, Mkandawire,

S Sunzu, Mfune, Chirwa, Sinkala, Lungu
(Musekwa 59), Musonda (Malama 59), Mbesuma
(Mbewe 86), Kalengo.

WORLD SOCCER 91

RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

Octll - Brussels, Belgium

Nigeria 3 (Ambrose 38, Simon 61, Ighalo 88)

Cameroon 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 2,000. Ref: Lardot (Big)

Nigeria: Ikeme - Abdullahi, Balogun (Obaroakpo
90), Ambrose, Echiejile, Onazi, Mikel (Ndidi 62),
Igbonu (Ibrahim 71 ), Simon, Emenike (Ighalo
74), Musa (Iwobi 79).

Cameroon: Ondoa (N'Dy Assembe 70) -
Bassong (Fai 67), Chedjou, N'Koulou, Kombi
Mandjang, Siani, Moukandjo, Mbia, Aboubakar,
N’Jie, Kweuke (Salli 46). Sent off: Mbia 47

Monday, October 12

Oct12 - Vise, Belgium
Gabon 1 (Madinda 51 )

DR Congo 2 (Botaka 6, Mbemba 88)

HT: 0-1. Att: 1,850. Ref: Gumienny (Big)

Gabon: Ovono - Palun (Oto'o 46), Appindangoye,
H Ndong, Obiang, Tandjigora, Lemina (Mbingui
76), Kanga, Madinda (Biyogo Poko 81 ),
Lengoualama (Bulot 62), Aubameyang.

DR Congo: Kiassumbua (Nkela 72) - Oualembo,
Mbemba, Mongongu, Nsakala, Mulumba, Maghoma
(Zakuani 62), Nkololo (Kebano 43), Botaka
(Mubele 77), Kabananga (Mbokani 62), Bolasie.

OctU - Agadir

Morocco 1 (El Kaddouri pen 23)

Guinea 1 (M Yattara 20)

HT: 1-1. Att: 10,000. Ref: N'Diaye (Sen)

Morocco: Bounou - Chafik, El Adoua, Feddal,
Lazaar (Achenteh 82), Obbadi, El Ahmadi,

Ziyech (Belhanda 63), El Kaddouri, Barrada
(lajour 52), Chahechouhe (Hamdallah 69).
Guinea: A Keita - Bamba, F Camara (Conte 58),

L Camara (Idrissa Sylla 90+3), Conde, Ibrahima
Bangoura (Issiaga Sylla 58), Diarra, Diop, N Keita
(Sankoh 69), A Diallo (S Keita 63), M Yattara
(A Bangoura 79).

Tuesday, October 13

OctlS -Algiers
Algeria 1 (Brahimi 80)

Senegal 0

HT: 0-0. Att: 35,000. Ref: Mamane (Ngr)
Algeria: Doukha - Ziti, Medjani, Belkaroui (Tahrat
46), Bedbouda, Feghouli (Bennahma 70), Mesloub,
Taider, Mahrez, Brahimi, Bounedjah (Soudani 70).
Senegal: Diallo - Gassama, Mbodj, Koulibaly,

Ciss, Gueye, Kouyate (Sankhare 65), Saivet
(C N'Doye 71 ), S Mane, Niasse (Konate 78), Sakho.

OctlS - Washington DC, USA
Canada 1 (DeJong 28)

Ghana 1 (Adomah 44)

HT: 1-1. Att: 2,300. Ref: Penso (USA)

Canada: Stamatopoulos - Ouimette (Aird 46),
Lefevre, Hainault, DeJong (Adekugbe 53), Straith,
Froese, Trafford (Bustos 71 ), M Haber (Cavallini
46), Ricketts (Jackson 81 ), Hoilett (Tissot 88).
Ghana: Brimah - Afful (Ofosu-Ayeh 68), Boye,
Schlupp, Gyimah, Bernard Mensah (Waris 60),
Agyemang-Badu, Wakaso (Acquah 67), Accam,
Adomah (Sam 68), J Ayew (Poku 82).

OctlS - Brazzaville
Congo 2 (Bifouma 20, 89)

Benin 1 (Bessan 78)

HT: 1-0

OctlS - Carson, USA
Guatemala 1 (Pappa 30)

El Salvador 1 (Castro 68)

HT: 1-0. Ref: Salazar (USA)

Guatemala 4-2 on pens^

Guatemala: P Motta - Lalin, Vasquez, Gallardo,
Mejia, Thompson, De Leon (Arias 73), Hernandez
(Herrarte 71 ), Pappa (Contreras 36), C Ruiz
(L Martinez 55), Tinoco (Castellanos 75).

El Salvador: Contreras - Castro, Molina, Romero,
Larin, Alvarez (Punyed 81 ), Menjivar, D Ceren, Jaime
Alas (N Bonilla 87), A Flores, Rugamas (Pena 46).
^This game was for the Copa Delta

OctlS - San Pedro Sula
Honduras 1 (Andino 13)

South Africa 1 (Mathoho 8)

HT: 1-1. Att: 7,000. Ref: Pitti (Pan)

Honduras: Valladares - Crisanto, Velasquez,

M Figueroa, Oseguera (Alvarado 60), A Mejia
(Garrido 46), Morazan (0 Garcia 60),

M Martinez, Andino (Tejeda 70), Discua,

Castillo (Bengtson 70).

South Africa: Khune - Ngcongca, Coetzee,
Mathoho, Lebusa (Daniels 16), Jali, Mokotjo
(Furman 70), Masango, Serero (Vilakazi 24;
Nhlapho 87), Shongwe (Lebese 56), Patosi
(Zungu 65).

OctlS - Tehran
Iran 1 (Torabi 45)

Japan 1 (Muto 47)

HT: 1-0. Att: 10,000. Ref: Abdul Baki (Oma)

Iran: A Haghighi - Rezaeian, Montazeri,

Ghafouri (Torabi 24), Hosseini, 0 Ebrahimi,

Amiri, Ezatolahi (Pouraliganji 63), Dejagah
(Teymourian 90), Hajsafi, Azmoun (Taremi 83).
Japan: Nishikawa - Morishige, Yoshida, Yonekura,
G Sakai (Niwa 75), Hasebe, Kagawa (Kiyotake
46), Shibasaki (Kashiwagi 71 ), Honda (Okazaki
65), Usami (Haraguchi 59), Muto (Minamino 87).

OctlS - Toluca
Mexico 1 (Vela 44)

Panama 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 25,000. Ref: Moncada (Hnd)
Mexico: Talavera - I Jimenez, M Herrera, Rivas,
Torres Nilo, Esquivel (Layun 79), Guemez, J Dos
Santos (H Herrera 46), Aquino (E Hernandez
60), Vela, R Jimenez (J M Corona 60).

Panama: Penedo (Calderon 46) - Parris (Miller
52), Baloy, L Henriquez, Machado, Godoy
(Blackburn 57), Quintero (Addles 72), Pimentel,
Cooper, Gomez, Nurse (Tejada 61 ).

OctlS - Seoul

South Korea 3 (Ji Dong-won 35,

Ki Sung-yueng pen 57, Hwang Ui-jo 63)

Jamaica 0

HT: 1-0. Att: 29,105. Ref: Sato (Jap)

South Korea: Jung Sung-ryong - Kim Jin-su
(ParkJoo-ho 85), Kim Kee-hee, Hong Jeong-ho
(KwakTae-hwi 57), Kim Chang-soo,Jung
Woo-young (Jang Hyun-soo 85), Han
Kook-young, Ji Dong-won (Kwon Chang-hoon
77), Ki Sung-yueng (Nam Tae-hee 88), Lee
Jae-sung (Koo Ja-cheol 69), Hwang Ui-jo.
Jamaica: Blake - Cummings, U Edwards, Harriott
(Woozencroft 72), Laing, Dawkins (Ottey 89),

D Brown (Grant 46), Mariappa, Stevens
(Morris 78), Mattocks (Seaton 86), Barnes.

OctlS - Port of Spain

Trinidad & Tobago 0
Nicaragua 0

Att: 5,500. Ref: Yorke (T&T)

Trinidad & Tobago: J-M Williams - Cyrus,
Marshall (Abu Bakr 57), Bateau, David
(M Williams 68), K George, Hyland, Caesar
(A Andrews 78), Cummings (Boucaud 67),

J Jones, K Jones (Glenn 73).

Nicaragua: Lorente - Quijana, 0 Lopez, Copete
(Silva 81 ), Rosas, Peralta, M Lopez (Coronel 86),
Chavarria (Membreno 90), Barrera, Pinel
(B Garcia 68), Leguias (Pavon 77).

OctlS - Harrison
United States 0
Costa Rica 1 (Campbell 70)

HT: 0-0. Att: 9,214. Ref: Lopez (Gtm)

United States: Howard - Evans, Cameron
(Alvarado 46), Orozco, Ream (Spector 63),
Yedlin, Jones (Diskerud 46), Williams, Shea
(Nguyen 72), Zardes (Wooten 72), Altidore
(Wood 46).

Costa Rica: Navas - Acosta, Waston, Oviedo
(Matarrita 54), Duarte (Calvo 87), Gamboa
(Myrie 67), Venegas (Colindres 76), Borges
(Granados 90+1), Guzman, Urena, Campbell.

2017 AFRtCAN NATIOKS CUP QUALS

Group A

2017 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP QUALS - GP A
P W D L F A Pts

Togo 2 2 0 0 4 1 6

Liberia 2 1 0 12 2 3

Tunisia 2 1 0 18 2 3

Djibouti 2 0 0 2 1 10 0

Group B

2017 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP QUALS - GP B
P W D L F A Pts

Angola 2 1

Cent Af Rep 2 1

DR Congo 2 1

Madagascar 2 0

1 0 4 0 4
0 12 4 3
0 12 3 3
1112 1

Group C

2017 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP QUALS - GP C
P W D L F A Pts

Mali 2 1

South Sudan 2 1

Benin 2 0

Equat Guinea 2 0

10 3 14
0 112 3
2 0 2 2 2
1112 1

Group D

2017 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP QUALS - GP D
P W D L F A Pts

Uganda 2 2 0 0 3 0 6

Botswana 2 1 0 112 3

Burkina Faso 2 1 0 12 13

Comoros 2 0 0 2 0 3 0

Group E

2017 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP QUALS - GP E
P W D L F A Pts

Congo 2 1

Zambia 2 1

Kenya 2 0

Guinea-Bissau 2 0

1 0 5 3 4
10 2 14
112 3 1
112 4 1

Group F

2017 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP QUALS - GP F
P W D L F A Pts

Cape Verde 2 2

Morocco 2 2

Libya 2 0

Sao Tome 2 0

0 0 9 2 6
0 0 4 0 6
0 2 13 0
0 2 1 10 0

Group G

2017 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP QUALS - GP G
P W D L F A Pts

Egypt 2 2

Nigeria 2 1

Tanzania 2 0

Chad 2 0

0 0 8 1 6
1 0 2 0 4

110 3 1

0 2 17 0

Group H

2017 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP QUALS - GP H
P W D L F A Pts

Ghana 2 2 0 0 8 1 6

Rwanda 2 10 1113

Mauritius 2 1 0 12 7 3

Mozambique 2 0 0 2 0 2 0

Group I

2017 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP QUALS - GP I
P W D L F A Pts

Sudan 1 1

Ivory Coast 1 0

Sierra Leone 2 0

0 0 10 3

1 0 0 0 1
110 11

Group J

2017 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP QUALS - GP J
P W D L F A Pts

Algeria 2 2 0 0 7 1 6

Ethiopia 2 1 1 0 3 2 4

Seychelles 2 0 1115 1

Lesotho 2 0 0 2 2 5 0

Group K

2017 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP QUALS - GP K
P W D L F A Pts

Senegal 2 2

Burundi 2 1

Niger 2 1

Namibia 2 0

0 0 5 1 6
0 13 3 3
0 112 3
0 2 0 3 0

Group L

2017 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP QUALS - GP L
P W D L F A Pts

Swaziland 2 1

Zimbabwe 2 1

Malawi 2 0

Guinea 2 0

1 0 4 3 4
1 0 3 2 4
113 4 1
112 3 1

Group M

1 2017 AFRICAN NATIONS CUP QUALS
1 P W D L F

-GPM 1
A Pts 1

Cameroon

2

2

0

0

2

0

6

Mauritania

2

1

0

1

3

2

3

Gambia

2

0

1

1

0

1

1

South Africa

2

0

1

1

1

3

1

Remaining matchdays

2016 - Mar 2S-26; Mar 26-29; Jun S-5; Sep 2-4

• ThelS group winners and the 2 runners-up
with the best record (excluding S-team Group I)
will qualify for the16-team finals. Hosts Gabon
qualify automatically

Club

football

CONCACAF

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Group A

Aug 4: Santos Laguna (Mex) 4
W Connection (T&T) 0.

Aug 20: Saprissa (CR) 4 W Connection 0.
Aug 25: Saprissa 2 Santos Laguna 1.

Sep 16: W Connection 2 Saprissa 1.

Sep 22: W Connection 0 Santos Laguna 1.
Oct 20: Santos Laguna 6 Saprissa 1.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - GP A - FINAL

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Santos (Q) 4

3

0

1

12

3

9

Saprissa 4

2

0

2

8

9

6

W Connection 4

1

0

3

2

10

3

Group B

Aug 6: Herediano (CR) 3 Isidro Metapan (ESv) 0.
Aug 18: Tigres (Mex) 2 Isidro Metapan 1.

Aug 26: Herediano 1 Tigres 1.

Sep 17: Isidro Metapan 2 Herediano 0.

Sep 24: Isidro Metapan 1 Tigres 2.

Oct 21: Tigres 0 Herediano 0.

1 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

-GPB-

FINAL 1

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts 1

Tigres (Q) 4

2

2

0

5

3

8

Herediano 4

1

2

1

4

3

5

Isidro Metapan 4

1

0

3

4

7

3

Group C

Aug 4: Queretaro (Mex) 2 San Francisco (Pan) 0.
Aug 18: Verdes (BIz) 0 Queretaro 0.

Aug 26: San Francisco 2 Queretaro 1.

Sep 17: Queretaro 8 Verdes 0.

Sep 22: Verdes 2 San Francisco 1.

Oct 22: San Francisco 8 Verdes 0.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - GP C - FINAL

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Queretaro (Q)

4

2

1

1

11

2

7

San Francisco

4

2

0

2

11

5

6

Verdes

4

1

1

2

2

17

4

Group D

Aug 6: Los Angeles Galaxy (USA) 5
Central (T&T) 1.

Aug 18: Los Angeles Galaxy 5
Comunicaciones (Gtm) 0.

Aug 27: Comunicaciones 1 Central 0.

Sep 17: Central 1 Comunicaciones 0.

Sep 23: Central 1 Los Angeles Galaxy 1.

Oct 21: Comunicaciones 1 Los Angeles Galaxy 1.

1 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE-

-GPD-

FINAL 1

1 P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts 1

LA Galaxy (Q) 4

2

2

0

12

3

8

Central 4

1

1

2

3

7

4

Comunicac’es 4

1

1

2

2

7

4

Group E

Aug 5: America (Mex) 4 Motagua (Hnd) 0.
Aug 19: America 1 Walter Ferretti (Nic) 0.

Aug 27: Motagua 2 Walter Ferretti 0.
Sep 16: Walter Ferretti 1 America 3.
Sep 24: Walter Ferretti 1 Motagua 2.
Oct 20: Motagua 1 America 1.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - GP E - FINAL
P W D L F A Pts

America (Q) 4 3

Motagua 4 2

Walter Ferretti 4 0

1 0 9 2 10
115 6 7
0 4 2 8 0

92 WORLD SOCCER

RESULTS, TABLES, FIXTURES

Group F

1 ICELAND

Aug 5: Vancouver Whitecaps (Can) 1

Seattle Sounders (USA) 1.

■ 2015 - FINAL

Aug 19: Seattle Sounders 2 Olimpia (Hnd) 1.

1

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Aug 26: Olimpia 1 Seattle Sounders 0.

FH (C)

22

15

3

4

47

26

48

Sep 16: Vancouver Whitecaps 1 Olimpia 0.

Breidablik

22

13

7

2

34

13

46

Sep 23: Seattle Sounders 3

KR

22

12

6

4

36

21

42

Vancouver Whitecaps 0.

Stjarnan

22

9

6

7

32

24

33

Oct 22: Olimpia 1 Vancouver Whitecaps 0.

Valur

22

9

6

7

38

31

33

Fjolnir

22

9

6

7

36

35

33

1 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - GP F - FINAL ■

lA

22

7

8

7

31

31

29

P W D L F A Pts I

Fylkir

22

7

8

7

26

31

29

Seattle S (Q) 4 2 1 1 6 3 7

Vikingur R'vik 22

5

8

9

32

36

23

Olimpia 4 2 0 2 3 3 6

IBV

22

5

4

13

26

37

19

V Whitecaps 4 1 1 2 2 5 4

Leiknir (R)

22

3

6

13

20

34

15

Keflavik(R)

22

2

4

16

22

61

10

Group G

Aug 4 Municipal (Gtm) 0 Real Salt Lake (USA) 1.
Aug 20: Santa Tecia (ESv) 1 Municipal 1.

Aug 25: Municipal 2 Santa Tecia 1.

Sep 15: Santa Tecia 0 Real Salt Lake 0.

Sep 24: Real Salt Lake 2 Santa Tecia 1.

Oct 20: Real Salt Lake 1 Municipal 0.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - GP G - FINAL
P W D L F A Pts

R Salt Lake (Q) 4 3 1 0 4 1 10

Municipal 4 1 1 2 3 4 4

Santa Tecia 4 0 2 2 3 5 2

■>: Arabe Unido (Pan) 3 Montego Bay
United (Jam) 0.

Aug 19: Arabe Unido 0 DC United (USA) 1.
Aug 25: DC United 3 Montego Bay United 0.
Sep 15: DC United 2 Arabe Unido 0.

Sep 22: Montego Bay United 3 DC United 3.
Oct 22: Montego Bay United 1 Arabe Unido 2.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - GP H - FINAL
P W D L F A Pts

DC United (Q) 4 3 1 0 9 3 10

Arabe Unido 4 2 0 2 5 4 6

Montego Bay 4 0 1 3 4 11 1

• Group winners qualified for the quarter-finals

Quarter-finals draw

Los Angeles Galaxy v Santos Laguna

Queretaro v DC United

Seattle Sounders v America

Tigres v Real Salt Lake

1st legs - Feb 23-25; 2nd legs - Marl-3, 2016

2015 Championship Final

Oct 25

Centro Dominguito 4 Centro Barber 2

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Hurricane (C)

18

11

5

2

33

12

38

Paradise

18

12

1

5

38

18

37

Boca Juniors

18

11

2

5

33

20

35

St John's

18

9

4

5

25

20

31

QPR

18

9

2

7

38

26

29

Chantimelie

18

9

2

7

31

30

29

Hard Rock

18

5

4

9

27

26

19

Fontenoy Utd^

18

6

1

11

22

38

19

Gr'daBoys(R) 18

5

3

10

17

28

18

Hampshire (R) 18

1

0

17

8

54

3

^ Enter rel/prom play-off

EUROPE

FAROE ISLANDS

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

B36 (C)

27

18

7

2

60

25

61

NSI

27

16

6

5

73

37

54

Vikingur

27

15

8

4

68

35

53

HB

27

11

10

6

43

31

43

Kl

27

11

8

8

50

41

41

IF

27

5

12

10

44

56

27

TB

27

4

14

9

36

47

26

AB

27

4

12

11

34

42

24

Suduroy (R)

27

6

4

17

39

68

22

EB/Str'mur (R) 27

2

5

20

27

92

11

SOUTH AMERICA

SUDAMERICANA CUP

3rd round

1st legs - Sep 22-24; 2nd legs - Sep 29-Oct1
Atletico Paranaense (Bra) v Brasilia (Bra)

1- 0, 0-0 (aggl-0)

Emelec (Ecu) v Santa Fe (Col)

2- 1, 0-1 (agg 2-2, Santa Fe on away goals)
Independiente (Arg) v Olimpia (Par)

1-0, 0-0 (aggl-0)

Lanus (Arg) v Defensor Sporting (Uru)

0- 0, 0-0 (agg 0-0, Defensor 5-3 on pens)
Libertad (Par) v Chapecoense (Bra)

1- 1, 1-1 (agg 2-2, Chapecoense 5-3 on pens)
River Plate (Arg) v LDU Quito (Ecu)

2- 0, 0-1 (agg 2-1)

Sport Recife (Bra) v Huracan (Arg)

1-1, 0-3 (agg 1-4)

Tolima (Col) v Sportivo Luqueno (Par)

1-1, 0-1 (agg 1-2)

AFRICA

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Semi-finals

1st legs - Sep 26/27; 2nd legs - Oct 3/4
Al Hilal (Sud) v USM Alger (Alg)

1- 2, 0-0 (agg 1-2)

Al Merreikh (Sud) v TP Mazembe (DRC)

2- 1, 0-3 (agg 2-4)

CONFEDERATION CUP

Semi-finals

1st legs - Sep 26/27; 2nd legs - Oct 3/4
Etoile Sahel (Tun) v Zamalek (Egy)

5-1, 0-3 (agg 5-4)

Orlando Pirates (SAf) v Al Ahly (Egy)
1-0, 4-3 (agg 5-3)

P W D L F A Pts

RecLibolo(C) 30 16
Prim’o Agosto 30 17

Benfica Luanda 30 14

Kabuscorp 30 11

Interclube 30 11

20 60
23 60
23 53

23 48

24 45

10 10 10 31 31 40

D’vo Huila

30

10

9

11

24

33

39

■

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Petro Atletico 30

10

8

12

25

29

38

Three Star (C) 16

10

5

1

32

9

35

AS Aviacao

30

10

8

12

31

39

38

Nepal Army

16

9

6

1

38

6

33

S Esperanca

30

9

10

11

22

28

37

ManangM'gdi 16

9

4

3

29

9

31

Rec Caala

30

7

15

8

28

25

36

Jhapa XI

16

8

3

5

23

13

27

Progresso S’ga 30

9

8

13

35

38

35

Armed Police

16

7

2

7

29

25

23

Academica

30

9

6

15

34

36

33

Far Western

16

5

5

6

26

33

20

Bravos M (R)

30

8

7

15

28

40

31

Nepai Police

16

3

4

9

14

29

13

S Cabinda (R)

30

7

10

13

31

46

31

J’ba Lumbini

16

2

2

12

10

43

8

Domant (R)

30

5

4

21

28

55

19

Morang

16

0

7

9

10

44

7

EQUATORIAL GUINEA

2015 - CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFFS - FINAL
P W D L F A Pts

Micomeseng (C) 6
SEIaNguema 6
Dep Mongomo 6
Dep Unidad^ 5
Akonangui^ 5
Leones Veg 6

4 11
2 9

'D/£/ not play final game

2015 C hampionshi p Final

1st leg - Sep 20; 2nd leg -Sep 27
LISCR V Nimba United 0-0, 0-0

(agg 0-0, Nimba United 3-2 on pens)

ASIA

AFC CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Semi-finals

1st legs - Sep 29/30; 2nd legs - Oct 20/21
Al Hilal (Sau)vAI Ahli (UAE)

1- 1, 2-3 (agg 3-4)

Guangzhou Evergnande (Chn) v Gamba Osaka (Jap)

2- 10-0 (agg 2-1)

Semi-finals

Kuwait SC (Kuw) v Istiklol (Taj) &

Qadsia SC (Kuw) v Johor Darul Ta'zim (MIy)

The Kuwaiti teams were expelled following FIFA's
suspension of Kuwait's FA because of government
interference in the running of the body The ruling
came after the 1st legs had been played - a 4-0
win to Kuwait SC and a 3- 1 win to Qadsia SC.
Both results were annulled and Istiklol and Johor
Darul Ta'zim were given walkovers

AFGHANISTAN

2015 Championship Final

Oct 2

Shaheen Asmayee 0 De Spin Ghar Bazan 0
(aet, De Spin Ghar Bazan 4-3 on pens)

1 LAOS

1 2015 - FINAL

P

W

D

L

F

A

Pts

Lao Toyota (C) 20

15

3

2

63

21

48

Lanexang

20

15

3

2

67

16

48

SHB Vientiane 20

13

5

2

50

23

44

Lao Poiice

20

8

6

6

39

33

30

HA Attapeu

20

7

5

8

43

46

26

Eastern Star

20

7

5

8

33

35

26

Champasak

20

8

1

11

32

31

25

EDL

20

5

9

6

30

41

24

Savan

20

6

2

12

30

43

20

Y Elephant

20

3

4

13

18

46

13

Ezra

20

1

1

18

15

85

4

1 MONGOLIA

Erchim (C) 16 12

FC Ulaanba'tar 16 11

Selenge Press 16 10

Khoromkhon 16 9

Khangarid 16 9

Ulaanb'r Univ 16 8

Deren 16 2

Mazaalaynuud 16 2

Soembiin B 16 2

3 62 15 37

5 40 24 33

4 40 19 32

5 50 28 29

6 46 26 28

6 49 30 26

11 24 56 9

12 20 60 8
13 9 82 7

OCEANIA

2015 Championship ilN^n i
Sep 26

Amicale 3 Malampa Revivors 0

KEY TO TABLES

(C) = champions

(R) = relegated

(Q) = qualified for next stage

(QF) = qualified for finals

(QP) = qualified for play-offs

League) Final

November 2015 Vol 56 No 2

EDITOR

Gavin Hamilton

AS5I5TANT EDITOR

Nich Hills

DESIGN DIRECTOR

Kevin Eason

DESIGN EDITOR

Jamie Latchford

DEPUTY DESIGN EDITOR

Daniel Franklin

PICTURE EDITOR

Duncan Bond

NEWS EDITOR

Jamie Rainbow

EDITORIAL SECRETARY

June Hiscock

PICTURES

Pictures copyright: Press Association Images,
Getty Images, Action Images and Reuters

Thanks this issue to

Dean Chillmaid, Debbie Millett, Peter Neish,
Dave Rallis

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SQUADS

PREMIER LEAGUE

GOALKEEPERS

33 Petr CECH (CzR)

(33) 20.05.82

49 Matt MACEY

(21)09.09.94

13 David OSPINA (Col)

(27) 31.08.88

DEFENDERS

24 Hector BELLERIN (Spa) (20) 19.03.95
21 Calum CHAMBERS (20) 20.01.95

2 Mathieu DEBUCHY (Fra) (30) 28.07.85

5 GABRIEL (Bra) (24)26.11.90

3 Kienan GIBBS (26) 26.09.89

6 Laurent KOSCIELNY (Fra) (30) 10.09.85

4 Per MERTESACKER (Ger) (31 ) 29.09.84

18 NachoMONREAL (Spa) (29) 26.02.86

MIDFIELDERS

8 Mikel ARTETA (Spa) (33)26.03.82

19 Santi CAZORLA (Spa) (30)13.12.84
34 Francis COQUELIN (Fra)(24) 13.05.91

20 Mathieu FLAMINI (Fra) (31 ) 07.03.84

15 Alex OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN

(22)15.08.93

11 Mesut OZIL (Ger) (27)15.10.88

16 Aaren RAMSEY (Wal) (24) 26.12.90

7 Tomas ROSICKY(CzR) (35) 04.10.80
10 JackWILSHERE (23)01.01.92

FORWARDS

28 Joel CAMPBELL (CR) (23) 26.06.92

12 Olivier GIROUD (Fra) (29) 30.09.86

17 Alexis SANCHEZ (Chl) (26)19.12.88

14 Theo WALCOTT (26)16.03.89
23 Danny WELBECK (24) 26.11.90

MANAGER

Arsene WENGER (Fra) (66) 22.10.49

ASTON VILLA

GOALKEEPERS

LD

31 Mark BUNN

(30)1611.84

1 Brad GUZAN (USA)

(31)09.09.84

DEFENDERS

23 Jordan AMAVI (Fra)

(21)09.03.94

6 Ciaran CLARK (Rol)

(26) 26.09.89

33 Jose Angel CRESPO (Spa)

(28) 09.02.87

21 Alan HUTTON (Sco)

(30) 3011.84

2 Tiago ILORI (Por)

(22) 26.02.93

16 Joleon LESCOTT

(33)16.08.82

5 Jores OKORE (Den)

(23)11.08.92

4 Micah RICHARDS

(27) 24.06.88

18 Kieran RICHARDSON (31)21.10.84
14 Philippe SENDEROS (Swi) (30)14.02.85

MIDFIELDERS

7 Leandro BACUNA (Hoi) (24) 21.08.91

12 Joe COLE

(33) 0811.81

22 Gary GARDNER

(23) 29.06.92

25 Carles GIL (Spa)

(22) 2211.92

40 JackGREALISH

(20)10.09.95

8 Idrissa GUEYE (Sen) (26)26.09.89

28 Charles N'ZOGBIA (Fra) (29) 28.05.86
24 Carlos SANCHEZ (Col) (29) 06.02.86

9 Scott SINCLAIR

(26) 25.03.89

17 JorclanVERETOUT (Fra) (22) 01.03.93
15 Ashley WESTWOOD (25)01.04.90

FORWARDS

11 Gabriel AGBONLAHOR (28) 13.10.86

19 Jordan AYEW (Gha) (24)11.09.91
39 RudyGESTEDE(Ben) (26)10.10.88
27 Libor KOZAK (CzR) (26) 30.05.89

20 Adama TRAORE (Spa) (19 ) 25.01.96

MANAGER

Vacant

BOURNEMOUTH

GOALKEEPERS

21 RyanALLSOP (23)17.06.92
1 Artur BORUC (Pol) (35)20.02.80
23 Adam FEDERICI (Aus) (30) 31.01.85

DEFENDERS

33 Joe BENNETT

(25) 28.03.90

38 Baily CARGILL
3 Steve COOK
11 Charlie DANIELS

(20)1310.95
(24)19.04.91
(29) 07.09.86

25 Sylvain DISTIN (Fra)

(37)1612.77

5 Tommy ELPHICK
2 Simon FRANCIS

(28) 07.09.87
(30)16.02.85

14 Tyrone MINGS

(22)13.03.93

15 Adam SMITH

(24) 29.04.91

MIDFIELDERS

8 Harry ARTER (Rol) (25)2812.89
4 Dan GOSLING (25)02.02.90

10 Max GRADEL (IvC) (27)30.11.87
16 Shaun MACDONALD (Wal)

(27)17.06.88

32 Eunan O'KANE (Rol)
7 Marc PUGH

(25)10.07.90
(28) 02.04.87

30 Matt RITCHIE

(26)10.09.89

19 Junior STANISLAS

(25) 2611.89

6 Andrew SURMAN

(29) 20.08.86

FORWARDS

20 Christian ATSU (Gha) (23) 10.01.92
18 Yann KERMORGANT (Fra) (34) 0811.81
17 Joshua KING (Nor) (23)15.01.92
27 Glenn MURRAY (32) 25.09.83
9 TokeloRANTIE(SAf) (25)08.09.90
24 Lee TOMLIN (26)12.01.89

13 Callum WILSON (23)27.02.92
MANAGER

Eddie HOWE

(37) 2911.77

GOALKEEPERS

32 Marco AMELIA (Ita)

(33)02.04.82

1 AsmirBEGOVIC (Bos) (28) 20.06.87
27 Jamal BLACKMAN (21 ) 2710.93
13 Thibaut COURTOIS (Big) (23) 11.05.92

28 Cesar AZPILICUETA (Spa)

(26) 28.08.89
24 Gary CAHILL (29)1912.85

15 Papy DJILOBODJI (Sen) (26) 0112.88
2 BranislavlVANOVIC(Ser) (31) 22.02.84

6 Baba RAHMAN (Gha) (21 ) 02.07.94

26 John TERRY (34)0712.80

5 Kurt ZOUMA (Fra) (20)27.10.94

MIDFIELDERS

4 CescFABREGAS (Spa) (28) 04.05.87
10 Eden HAZARD (Big) (24)07.01.91

16 KENEDY (Bra) (19)08.02.9J
36 Ruben LOFTUS-CHEEK (19) 23.01.96

21 Nemanja MATIC (Ser) (27) 01.08.88
12 John Obi MIKEL (Nga)(28) 22.04.87

8 OSCAR (Bra) (24) 09.09.91

7 RAMIRES (Bra) (28) 24.03.87
14 Bertrand TRAORE (BuF) (20) 06.09.95

22 WILLIAN (Bra) (27) 09.08.88

FORWARDS

19 Diego COSTA (Spa) (26)0710.88

9 Radamel FALCAO (Col) (29) 10.02.86

17 PEDRO (Spa) (28) 28.07.87

18 Loic REMY (Fra) (28) 02.01.87

COACH

Jose MOURINHO (Por) (52) 26.01.63

CRYSTAL PALACE

Li

GOALKEEPERS

13 Wayne HENNESSEY (Wal) (28) 24.01.87
12 Alex McCarthy (25) 0312.89
1 Julian SPERONI (Arg) (36) 18.05.79

6 Scott DANN (28)14.02.87

27 Damien DELANEY (Rol) (25) 29.07.81

19 Zeki FRYERS (23)09.09.92

4 Brede HANGELAND (Nor)

(34) 20.06.81
34 Martin KELLY (25) 27.04.90
3 Adrian MARIAPPA (Jam) (28) 03.10.86

5 Patrick MCCARTHY (Rol) (32) 31.05.83

23 Pape SQUARE (Sen) (34)06.06.90
2 Joel WARD (25) 2910.89

MIDFIELDERS

10 Yannick BOLASIE (DRC) (26) 24.05.89

7 Yohan CABAYE (Fra) (29)14.01.86

15 Mile JEDINAK (Aus) (31)03.08.84

28 Joe LEDLEY (Wal) (28) 23.01.87
14 LEE Chung-Yong (SKo) (27) 02.07.88
18 James McArthur (SCO) (27) 0710.87
22 Jordon MUTCH (23) 0212.91
42 Jason PUNCHEON (29) 26.06.86
26 Bakary SAKO (Mil) (27) 24.04.88

11 WilfriedZAHA (22)1011.92

FORWARDS

32 Kwesi APPIAH (Gha) (25)12.08.90

8 Patrick BAMFORD (22)05.09.93

9 Fraizer CAMPBELL (28)13.09.87

29 Marouane CHAMAKH (Mor)

(31)10.01.84

16 Dwight GAYLE (24)2010.90
21 Connor WICKHAM (22)31.03.93

MANAGER

Alan PARDEW

(54)18.07.61

NEWCASTLE UTD

GOALKEEPERS

26 Karl DARLOW (25) 0810.90

21 Robert ELLIOT (Rol) (29)30.04.86

1 Tim KRUL (Hoi) (27) 03.04.88

41 Freddie WOODMAN (18)04.03.97
DEFENDERS

2 Fabricio COLOCCINI (Arg) (33) 22.01.82

3 Paul DUMMETT (Wal) (24) 26.09.91
19 MassadioHAIDARA (Fra) (22) 0212.92

22 Daryl JANMAAT (Hoi) (26) 22.07.89
15 Jamaal LASCELLES (21)1112.93
43 Kevin MBABU (Swi) (20) 19.04.95
18 Chancel MBEMBA (DRC) (21 ) 08.08.94

27 Steven TAYLOR (29) 23.01.86

6 Michael WILLIAMSON (31 ) 0811.83

MIDFIELDERS

16 Rolando AARONS

(19)16.11.95

8 Vurnon ANITA (Hoi)

(26) 04.04.89

4 JackCOLBACK

(26) 2410.89

10 SiemDE JONG (Hoi)

(26) 28.01.89

11 YoanGOUFFRAN (Fra) (29) 25.05.86
31 SylvainMARVEAUX (Fra) (29) 15.04.86
14 Gabriel OBERTAN (Fra) (26) 26.02.89
7 Moussa SISSOKO (Fra) (26) 16.08.89
20 Florian THAUVIN (Fra) (22) 26.01.93
24 Cheik TIOTE (IvC) (29) 21.06.86

5 GeorginioWIJNALDUM(Hol)

(24)1111.90

FORWARDS

9 PapissCISSE(Sen) (30)03.06.85
45 Aleksandar MITROVIC (Ser)

(21)16.09.94
17 Ayoze PEREZ (Spa) (22)23.07.93
29 Emmanuel RIVIERE (Fra) (25) 03.03.90
36 Ivan TONEY (19)16.03.96

MANAGER

Steve McCLAREN

(54) 03.05.61

NORWICH CITY

GOALKEEPERS

31 Jake KEAN
13 Declan RUDD
1 John RUDDY

DEFENDERS

(24) 04.02.91
(24) 16.01.91
(29) 2410.86

6 Sebastien BASSONG (Cam)

(29) 09.07.86
24 Ryan BENNEH (25) 06.03.90
5 Russell MARTIN (Sco) (29) 04.01.86
23 Martin OLSSON (Swe) (27) 17.05.88

15 Harry TOFFOLO (20)19.08.95

2 Steven WHinAKER (Sco)

(31)16.06.84

3 Andre WISDOM (22) 09.05.93

MIDFIELDERS

17 Elliott BENNETT (26)1812.88
12 Robbie BRADY (Rol) (23) 14.01.92

18 Graham DORRANS (Sco) (28) 05.05.87
14 Wesley HOOLAHAN (Rol) (33) 20.05.82
8 Jonathan HOWSON (27)21.05.88

16 Matthew JARVIS (29)22.05.86

21 YoussufMULUMBU (DRC) (28) 25.01.87

28 Gary O'NEIL (32)18.05.83

22 Nathan REDMOND (21 ) 06.03.94
27 Alexander TEHEY (Nor) (29) 04.04.86
FORWARDS

7 Lewis GRABBAN

(27)12.01.88

11 Gary HOOPER

(27) 26.01.88

10 Cameron JEROME

(29)14.08.86

19 KyleLAFFERTY(NI)

(28)16.09.87

9 Dieumerci MBOKANI (DRC)

(29) 2211.85

MANAGER

Alex NEIL (Sco)

(34) 09.06.81

SOUTHAMPTON

GOALKEEPERS

1 Kelvin DAVIS (29) 29.09.76

44 Fraser FORSTER (27) 17.03.88

25 Paulo GAZZANIGA (Arg) (23) 02.01.92

22 Maarten STEKELENBURG (Hoi)

(33) 22.09.82

DEFENDERS

21 Ryan BERTRAND (26) 05.08.89

26 Steven CAULKER (23) 2912.91

6 Jose FONTE (Por) (31 ) 2212.83
5 Florin GARDOS (Rom) (27) 2910.88

15 Cuco MARTINA (Cur) (26) 25.09.89

32 Jason MCCARTHY (19) 0711.95

2 Cedric SOARES (Por) (24)31.08.91

33 MattTARGETT (20)18.09.95

17 Virgil VAN DIJK (Hoi) (24)08.07.91

3 Maya YOSHIDA (Jap) (27) 24.08.88

MIDFIELDERS

4 Jordy CLASIE (Hoi) (24) 27.06.91

8 Steven DAVIS (Nl) (30) 01.01.85

27 Lloyd ISGROVE (Wal) (22)12.01.93
38 Sam MCQUEEN (20) 06.02.95

23 Gaston RAMIREZ (Uru) (24) 0212.90

18 Harrison REED (20)27.01.95

14 Oriol ROMEU (Spa) (24)24.09.91

11 Dusan TADIC (Ser) (26)20.11.88

12 Victor WANYAMA (Ken) (24) 25.06.91

16 James WARD-PROWSE(21 ) 0111.94

FORWARDS

20 JUANMI (Spa) (22) 20.05.93

7 Shane LONG (Rol) (28) 22.01.87

10 Sadio MANE (Sen) (23)10.04.92

19 GrazianoPELLE(lta) (30)15.07.85

9 Jay RODRIGUEZ (26)29.07.89

MANAGER

Ronald KOEMAN (Hoi) (52) 21.03.63

STOKE CITY

GOALKEEPERS

Le

1 JackBUTLAND (22)10.03.93

24 Shay GIVEN (Rol) (39) 20.04.76

29 Jakob HAUGAARD (Den) (23) 01.05.92

DEFENDERS

2 Phillip BARDSLEY (Sco) (30) 28.06.85

20 Geoff CAMERON (USA) (30) 11.07.85

8 Glen JOHNSON (31)23.08.84

5 Marc MUNIESA (Spa) (23)27.03.92

3 Erik PIETERS (Hoi) (27)07.08.88

17 Ryan SHAWCROSS (28) 0410.87
12 Marc WILSON (Rol) (28)17.08.87

26 Philipp WOLLSCHEID (Ger)

(26) 06.03.89

MIDFIELDERS

16 Charlie ADAM (Sco) (29)1012.85

14 Ibrahim AFELUY (Hoi) (29) 02.04.86
7 Stephen IRELAND (Rol) (29) 22.08.86

21 Steve SIDWELL (32)1412.82

22 Xherdan SHAQIRI (Swi) (23)1010.91

34 Oliver SHENTON ( 18) 0611.97

15 Marco VAN GINKEL (Hoi)

(22) 0112.92

6 Glenn WHELAN (Rol) (31)13.01.84

FORWARDS

10 MarkoARNAUTOVIC(Aut)

(26) 19.04.89

27 BOJAN Krkic (Spa) (25) 28.08.90

25 Peter CROUCH (34) 30.01.81

18 Marne Biram DIOUF (Sen)

(27) 1612.87

30 Moha EL OURIACHI (Mor)

(19)13.01.96

11 JOSELU (Spa) (25) 27.03.90

9 PeterODEMWINGIE(Nga)(34)15.07.81

19 Jonathan WALTERS (Rol) (31) 20.09.83

MANAGER

Mark HUGHES (Wal)

(52) 0111.63

SUNDERLAND

GOALKEEPERS

25 Vito MANNONE (Ita) (27) 02.03.88
1 Costel PANTILIMON (Rom)

(28) 01.02.87

32 MaksymilianSTRYJEK(Pol)

(19)18.07.96

5 Wes BROWN (36)1310.79

22 Sebastian COATES (Uru) (25) 0710.90

2 Billy JONES (28 ) 24.03.87

15 YounesKABOUL (Fra) (29) 04.01.86
12 Adam MAHHEWS (Wal) (23) 13.01.92

16 John O'SHEA (Rol) (34) 30.04.81
48 Josh ROBSON ( 17) 03.02.98

3 Patrick VAN AANHOLT (Hoi)

(25) 29.08.90
24 DeAndre YEDLIN (USA) (22) 09.07.93
MIDFIELDERS

4 Liam BRIDCUn (Sco) (26) 08.05.89

6 Lee CATTERMOLE (27) 21.03.88
46 Lynden GOOCH (USA) (19) 2412.95
14 Jordi GOMEZ (Spa) (30)24.05.85
11 Adam JOHNSON (28)14.07.87

7 Sebastian LARSSON (Swe)

(30) 06.06.85

17 Jeremain LENS (Hoi)
21 Yann M'VILA (Fra)

(27) 2411.87
(25) 29.06.90

8 JackRODWELL

(24)11.03.91

41 Duncan WATMORE

FORWARDS

(21)08.03.94

9 Fabio BORINI (Ita)

(24) 29.03.91

18 Jermain DEFOE

(33) 0710.82

26 Steven FLETCHER (Sco) (28) 26.03.87

19 Danny GRAHAM

(30)12.08.85

20 Ola TOIVONEN (Swe) (29) 03.07.86

MANAGER

Sam ALLARDYCE

(61)19.10.54

94 WORLD SOCCER

SQUADS

GOALKEEPERS

24 Tim HOWARD (USA) (36) 06.03.79

1 Joel ROBLES (Spa) (25)17.06.90

DEFENDERS

3 Leighton BAINES (30)11.12.84

27 Tyias BROWNING (21 ) 27.05.94
23 Seamus COLEMAN (Rol) (27) 11.10.88

25 Ramiro FUNES MORI (Arg)

(24) 03.05.91
32 Brendan GALLOWAY (19)17.03.96

2 Tony HIBBERT (34) 20.02.81

6 Phil JAGIELKA (33) 17.08.82

38 Matthew PENNINGTON (21) 06.10.94
5 John STONES (21)28.05.94
MIDFIELDERS

20 Ross BARKLEY (21 ) 05.12.93

18 Gareth BARRY (34)23.02.81
17 Muhamed BESIC (Bos) (23) 10.09.92

15 TomCLEVERLEY (26)12.08.89

4 Darron GIBSON (Rol) (28)25.10.87
30 Mason HOLGATE ( 19) 22.10.96
12 Aaren LENNON (28)16.04.87

16 James MCCARTHY (Rol) (24) 12.11.90

7 AidanMcGEADY (Rol) (29) 04.04.86

21 Leon OSMAN (34)17.05.81

8 Bryan OVIEDO (CR) (25)18.02.90

22 Steven PIENAAR (SAf) (33) 17.03.82

FORWARDS

19 GetattI DEULOFEU (Spa) (21 ) 13.03.94

9 Arouna KONE (IvC) (31)11.11.83

10 Romelu LUKAKU (Big) (22) 13.05.93

11 Kevin MIRALLAS (Big) (28) 05.10.87
14 Steven NAISMITH (Sco) (29) 14.09.86

28 Leandro RODRIGUEZ (Uru) (22) 1911.92

MANAGER

Roberto MARTINEZ (Spa) (42) 13.07.73

SWANSEA CITY

GOALKEEPERS

1 LukaszFABIANSKI (Pol) (30) 18.04.85
13 Kristoffer NORDFELDT (Swe)

(26) 23.06.89
25 Gerhard TREMMEL (Ger) (36) 1611.78

2 JordiAMAT(Spa) (23)21.03.92

27 Kyle BARTLEY (24) 22.05.91

33 Federico FERNANDEZ (Arg)

(26) 21.02.89
26 Kyle NAUGHTON (26) 1111.88

22 Angel RANGEL (Spa) (33) 2810.82
32 Liam SHEPHARD (Wal)(20) 2211.94

14 Franck TABANOU (Fra) (26) 30.01.89

3 Neil TAYLOR (Wal) (26)07.02.89

6 Ashley WILLIAMS (Wal) (31 ) 23.08.84

MIDFIELDERS

7 Leon BRITTON (33) 16.09.82

24 Jack CORK (26)25.06.89

21 Matt GRIMES (20)15.07.95

4 Kl Sung-yueng (SKo) (26) 24.01.89
31 Lee LUCAS (Wal) (23) 10.06.92

15 Wayne ROUTLEDGE (30)07.01.85

8 Jonjo SHELVEY (23) 27.02.92

23 Gylfi SIGURDSSON (Ice) (26) 08.09.89

FORWARDS

10 Andre AYEW (Gha) (25)1712.89
58 Modou BARROW (Gam) (23) 1310.92

17 EDER (Por) (27) 2212.87

11 Marvin EMNES (Hoi) (27)27.05.88

18 Bafetibis GOMIS (Fra)(30) 06.08.85
20 Jefferson MONTERO (Ecu)

(26) 01.09.89

MANAGER

LEICESTER CITY

GOALKEEPERS

LIVERPOOL

GOALKEEPERS

Garry MONK

(36) 06.03.79

1 Kasper SCHMEICHEL (Den)

(29)0511.86

32 Mark SCHWARZER (Aus) (43) 0610.72
DEFENDERS

29 Yohan BENALOUANE (Tun)

(28) 28.03.87

30 Ben CHILWELL (18)2112.96

28 Christian FUCHS (Aut) (29) 07.04.86

6 Robert HUTH (Ger)

5 Wes MORGAN (Jam)

(31)18.08.84
(31 ) 21.01.84

15 Jeff SCHLUPP (Gha)

(22) 2312.92

17 Danny SIMPSON (28)04.01.87

27 MardnWASILEWSKI(Pol)

(35) 09.06.80

MIDFIELDERS

11 MarcALBRIGHTON

(25)1811.89

4 Danny DRINKWATER (25) 05.03.90

24 Nathan DYER

(27) 2911.87

33 Gokhan INLER (Swi)

(31)27.06.84

8 Matty JAMES

(24) 22.07.91

14 N'Golo KANTE (Fra)

(24) 29.03.91

10 Andy KING (Wal)

(27) 29.10.88

39 Andre OLUKANMI

(17)0112.97

FORWARDS

36 Joe DODOO

(20) 29.06.95

34 Adam BOGDAN (Hun)(27) 27.09.87
39 Ryan FULTON (SCO) (19)23.05.96
22 Simon MIGNOLET (Big) (27) 06.03.88

DEFENDERS

58 Daniel CLEARY (Rol) (19)09.03.96

2 Nathaniel CLYNE (24)05.04.91

3 Jose ENRIQUE (Spa) (29)23.01.86

38 Jon FLANAGAN (22) 21.01.93
12 Joe GOMEZ (18)23.05.97

6 Dejan LOVREN (Cro) (26)05.07.89
18 Alberto MORENO (Spa) (23) 05.07.92

17 Mamadou SAKHO (Fra) (25) 13.02.90

37 Martin SKRTEL(Slk)

(30)1512.84

4 KoloTOURE(lvC)

MIDFIELDERS

(34)19.03.81

24 Joe ALLEN (Wal)

(25)14.03.90

32 Cameron BRANNAGAN ( 19) 09.05.96

23 Emre CAN (Ger)

(21)12.01.94

68 PedteCHIRIVELLA (Spa) (18) 23.05.97

10 Philippe COUTINHO (Bra) (23) 12.06.92

11 Roberto FIRMINO (Bra) (23) 0210.91

19 Andrej KRAMARIC (Cro) (24) 19.06.91
26 Riyad MAHREZ (Alg) (24) 21.02.91

20 Shinji OKAZAKI (Jap) (29) 16.04.86
38 Harry PANAYIOTOU(StK) (21) 28.10.94
23 Leonardo ULLOA (Arg) (29) 26.07.86

9 Jamie VARDY

(28)11.01.87

MANAGER

Claudio RANIERI (Ita)

(64) 2010.5

1 TOTTENHAM H

m.:

F

GOALKEEPERS

1 Hugo LLORIS (Fra)

(28) 2612.86

13 Michel VORM (Hoi)

(32) 2010.83

DEFENDERS

4 Toby ALDERWEIRELD (Big)

(26) 02.03.89

33 Ben DAVIES (Wal)

(22) 24.04.93

21 Federico FAZIO (Arg)

(28)17.03.87

3 Danny ROSE

(25) 02.07.90

16 KieranTRIPPIER

(25)19.09.90

5 Jan VERTONGHEN (Big) (28) 24.04.87

2 Kyle WALKER

(25) 28.05.90

27 Kevin WIMMER (Aut)

(22)1511.92

MIDFIELDERS

20 Dele ALU

(19)11.04.96

6 Nabil BENTALEB (Alg) (20)2411.94

28 Tom CARROLL

(23) 28.05.92

22 Nacer CHADLI (Big) (26) 02.08.89

15 EricDIER

(21)15.01.94

19 Mousa DEMBELE (Big) (28) 17.07.87
23 Christian ERIKSEN (Den) (23) 14.02.92

11 Erik LAMELA (Arg)

(23) 25.03.92

8 Ryan MASON

(24)13.06.91

24 Alex PRITCHARD

(22) 03.05.93

17 Andros TOWNSEND

(24)16.07.91

29 Harry WINKS

(19) 02.02.96

FORWARDS

10 Harry KANE

(22) 28.07.93

14 Clinton N'JIE (Cam)

(22)15.08.93

25 Joshua ONOMAH

(18) 27.04.97

7 SON Heung-min (SKo)

(23) 08.07.92

MANAGER

14 Jordan HENDERSON

(25)17.06.90

33 Jordon IBE

(19)0812.95

20 Adam LALLANA

21 LUCAS Leiva (Bra)
7 James MILNER

(27) 10.05.88

(28) 09.01.87

(29) 04.01.86

56 Connor RANDALL

(19) 2110.95

46 Jordan ROSSITER

(18) 24.03.97

FORWARDS

9 Christian BENTEKE (Big) (24) 0312.90
28 Danny INGS (23)16.03.92

27 Divock ORIGI (Big) (20) 18.04.95

15 Daniel STURRIDGE

(26) 01.09.89

MANAGER

Jurgen KLOPP (Ger)

GOALKEEPERS

(48) 16.06.67

34 Giedrius ARLAUSKIS (Lit) (27) 0112.87

13 Rene GILMARTIN (Rol) (28) 31.05.87

1 Heutelho GOMES (Bra) (34) 15.02.81

DEFENDERS

16 Nathan AKE (Hoi) (20)18.02.95
27 EssaidBELKALEM (Alg) (26) 01.01.89
3 Miguel BRITOS (Uru) (30)17.07.85
15 Craig CATHCART (Nl) (26) 06.02.89

31 Tommie HOBAN (Rol) (21 ) 24.01.94

25 Jose HOLEBAS (Gre) (31 ) 27.06.84
30 Jorell JOHNSON (19) 02.01.96

2 Allan-Romeo NYOM (Cam)

(27) 10.05.88

14 Juan Carlos PAREDES (Ecu)

(28) 08.07.87

5 Sebastian PRODL (Aut) (28) 21.06.87
MIDFIELDERS

22 Almen ABDI (Swi) (29) 2110.86
21 Ikechi ANYA (SCO) (27)03.01.88

8 Valon BEHRAMI (Swi) (30) 19.04.85
20 Steven BERGHUIS (Hol)(23) 1912.91
40 George BYERS (SCO) (19)29.05.96
29 Etienne CAPOUE (Fra) (27)11.07.88

35 Josh DOHERTY (Nl) (19) 15.03.96

33 Lloyd DYER (33)13.09.82

17 Adlene GUEDIOURA (Alg) (29) 1211.85
7 Jose Manuel JURADO (Spa)

(29) 29.06.86

23 Ben WATSON (30) 09.07.85

FORWARDS

9 Troy DEENEY (27) 29.06.88

32 Alessandm DIAMANTI (Ita)

(32) 02.05.83

19 Victor IBARBO (Col) (25)19.05.90

24 Odion IGHALO (Nga) (26)16.06.89

36 Alex JAKUBIAK ( 19) 27.08.96

26 Bernard MENSAH (20) 2912.94

10 ObbiOULARE(Blg) (19)08.01.96

MANAGER

Mauricio POCHEHINO (Arg) (43) 02.03.72 \ Quique SANCHEZ FLORES (Spa) (50) 05.02.65

MANCHESTER CITY

GOALKEEPERS

13 Willy CABALLERO (Arg) (33) 28.09.81

I Joe HART (28)19.04.87

29 Richard WRIGHT (37)0511.77

DEFENDERS

22 Gael CLICHY (Fra) (30) 26.07.85

26 Martin DEMICHELIS (Arg) (34) 2012.80

II AleksandarKOLAROV(Ser)

(29)1011.85

4 Vincent KOMPANY (Big) (29) 10.04.86

20 Eliaquim MANGALA (Fra) (24) 13.02.91

30 Nicolas OTAMENDI (Arg) (27) 12.02.88
3 Bacary SAGNA (Fra) (32)14.02.83

5 Pablo ZABALETA (Arg) (30) 16.01.85

MIDFIELDERS

62 Brandon BARKER (18) 0410.96

18 Fabian DELPH (25)21.11.89

70 George EVANS (20) 1312.94

25 FERNANDINHO (Bra)(30) 04.05.85

6 FERNANDO (Bra) (28) 25.07.87
8 Samir NASRI (Fra) (28) 26.06.87
15 Jesus NAVAS (Spa) (29)2111.85

27 Patrick ROBERTS (18)05.02.97

21 David SILVA (Spa) (29)08.01.86
42 YayaTOURE(lvC) (32)13.05.83
36 Bruno ZUCCULINI (Arg) (22) 03.04.93

FORWARDS

10 Sergio AGUERO (Arg) (27) 02.06.88

14 Wilfried BONY (IvC) (26) 1012.88

17 Kevin DE BRUYNE (Big)

(24) 28.06.91

72 Kelechi IHEANACHO (Nga)

(18)03.10.96

7 Raheem STERLING (20) 0812.94

COACH

MANCHESTER UTD

GOALKEEPERS

1 David DE GEA (Spa)

(24) 0711.90

50 Sam JOHNSTONE

(22) 25.03.93

20 Sergio ROMERO (Arg)(28) 22.02.87

DEFENDERS

17 Daley BLIND (Hoi)

(25) 09.03.90

36 Matteo DARMIAN (lta)(25) 0212.89

4 Phil JONES

(23) 21.02.92

33 Paddy McNAIR (Nl)

(20) 27.04.95

5 Marcos ROJO (Arg)

(25) 20.03.90

23 Luke SHAW

(20)12.07.95

12 Chris SMALLING

(25) 2211.89

30 Guillermo VARELA (Uru) (22) 24.03.93

MIDFIELDERS

16 Michael CARRICK

(34) 28.07.81

27 Marouane FELLAINI (Big) (27) 2211.87

21 Ander HERRERA (Spa) (26) 14.08.89
35 Jesse LINGARD (22)1512.92

8 Juan MATA (Spa) (27) 28.04.88
44 Andreas PEREIRA (Blg)( 19) 01.01.96

22 Nick POWELL (21)23.03.94

28 Morgan SCHNEIDERLIN (Fra)

(25) 0811.89

31 Bastian SCHWEINSTEIGER (Ger)

(31)01.08.84
25 Antonio VALENCIA (Ecu) (30) 04.08.85

18 Ashley YOUNG (30)09.07.85

FORWARDS

7 Memphis DEPAY (Hoi) (21 ) 13.02.94

9 Anthony MARTIAL (Fra) ( 19) 0512.95

10 Wayne ROONEY (29) 2410.85

19 James WILSON (19)0112.95

COACH

Manuel PELLEGRINI (Chi) (61 ) 16.09.53 Louis VAN GAAL (Hoi) (64) 08.08.51

WEST BROMWICH

GOALKEEPERS

I Ben FOSTER (32) 03.04.83

21 Anders LINDEGAARD (Den)

(31)13.04.84

13 BoazMYHILL(Wal) (32) 09.ri._82

38 Jack ROSE (20)31.01.95

DEFENDERS

4 James CHESTER (Wal)(26) 23.01.89

25 Craig DAWSON (25) 06.05.90

46 Shaun DONNELLAN (Rol) (18) 22.05.97

6 Jonny EVANS (Nl) (27) 02.01.88

16 Cristian GAMBOA (CR)(26) 2410.89

23 Gareth McAULEY(NI) (35)0512.79
3 Jonas OLSSON (Swe) (32) 10.03.83
15 Sebastien POCOGNOLI (Big)

(28) 01.08.87
MIDFIELDERS

II Chris BRUNT (Nl) (30)1412.84
42 Kyle EDWARDS (17)17.02.98

24 Darren FLETCHER (Sco) (31 ) 01.02.84
8 Craig GARDNER (28) 2511.86
31 Serge GNABRY (Ger) (20)14.07.95

14 James McCLEAN (Rol) (26) 22.04.89
19 CallumMcMANAMAN (24) 25.04.91

7 James MORRISON (Sco) (29) 25.05.86
29 StephaneSESSEGNON(Ben)

(31)01.06.84
41 Joe WARD (19)27.09.96

5 Claudio YACOB (Arg) (28)18.07.87

FORWARDS

10 Victor ANICHEBE (Nga) (27) 23.04.88
18 Saido BERAHINO (22) 04.08.93

17 Rickie LAMBERT (33)16.02.82

33 Salomon RONDON (Ven) (26) 16.09.89
MANAGER

WEST HAM UNITED

GOALKEEPERS

13 ADRIAN (Spa) (28)03.01.87

1 Darren RANDOLPH (Rol) (28) 12.05.87

34 Raphael SPIEGEL (Swi) (22) 1912.92

DEFENDERS

19 James COLLINS (Wal)(32) 23.08.83

3 Aaron CRESSWELL (25)1512.89

12 Carl JENKINSON (23)08.02.92
45KyleKNOYLE (19)24.09.96

17 Joey O'BRIEN (Rol) (29)17.02.86
21 Angelo OGBONNA (Ita) (27) 23.05.88

35 Reece OXFORD (16) 1612.98

2 Winston REID (NZ) (27) 03.07.88

5 James TOMKINS (26)29.03.89
MIDFIELDERS

18 Morgan AMALFITANO (Fra)

(30) 20.03.85
30 Michail ANTONIO (25) 28.03.90
39 Josh CULLEN (Rol) ( 19) 07.04.96

8 CheikhouKOUYATA (Sen) (25) 2112.89
28 Manuel LANZINI (Arg) (22)15.02.93
16 Mark NOBLE (28)08.05.87

14 Pedro OBIANG (Spa) (23)27.03.92
27 Dimitri PAYET (Fra) (28) 29.03.87
4 2 Martin SAMUELSEN (Nor) ( 18) 17.04.97

4 Alexandre SONG (Cam) (28) 09.09.87

FORWARDS

9 Andy CARROLL (26)06.01.89
26 NikicaJELAVIC(Cro) (30)27.08.85

36 Elliott LEE (20) 1612.94

20 Victor MOSES (Nga) (24) 1212.90

15 Diafra SAKHO (Sen) (25) 2412.89
11 Enner VALENCIA (Ecu) (25) 0411.89

10 Mauro ZARATE (Arg) (28)18.03.87

Tony PULIS (Wal)

(57)16.01.58

Slaven BILIC (Cro) (47) 11.09.67

WORLD SOCCER 95

(SIU90 lo SD SdBo)

SQUADS

GOALKEEPERS

1 Ludovic BUTELLE

(32) 03.04.83

30 Alexandre LETELLIER

(24)11.12.90

DEFENDERS

21 YoannANDREU

(26) 03.05.89

2 GaelANGOULA

(33)18.07.82

18 Ibrahima DIALLO (Gui) (30) 26.09.85
6 Ismael KEITA(Mli) (25)08.07.90
4 Bilel MOHSNI (Tun) (28) 21.07.87
3 Arnold Bouka MOUTOU (Con)
(^6) 28.11.88

24 Romain THOMAS (27)12.06.88
8 Ismael TRAORE(lvC) (29)18.08.86

25 Anther YAHIA (Alg) (33) 21.03.82

7 Olivier AURIAC (32)14.09.83
9 Abdoul CAMARA (Gui) (25) 20.02.90
15 PierrickCAPELLE (28)15.04.87
20 Charles DIERS

(34) 06.06.81

23 Yohan EUDELINE
29 Vincent MANCEAU

(33) 23.06.82
(26)10.07.89

5 Thomas MANGANI

(28) 29.04.87

17 Cheick N'DOYE (Sen) (29) 29.03.86

26 Guy N'GOSSO (Cam) (30) 11.11.85

28 Romain SAISS (Mor) (25) 26.03.90
19 Mathias SERIN (24)01.08.91
FORWARDS

27 FereboryDORE(Con) (26)21.01.89
22 Goran KARANOVIC (Swi) (28) 13.10.87
14 Billy KETKEOPHOMPHONE

(25) 24.03.90

12 Jean-Pierre NSAME (Cam)

(22) 01.05.93
11 Slimane SISSOKO (24) 20.03.91
10 GillesSUNU (24)30.03.91

COACH

Stephane MOULIN

GOALKEEPERS

(48) 04.08.67

16 PaulNARDI (21)18.05.94

1 Danijel SUBASIC (Cm) (31 ) 27.10.84

30 Seydou SY (Sen) ( 19) 12.12.95

DEFENDERS

6 Ricardo CARVALHO (Por) (37) 18.05.78
4 Fabio COENTRAO (Por) (27) 11.03.88
42 Raphael DIARRA (20) 27.05.95
21 Elderson ECHIEJILE (Nga)

(27) 20.01.88

2 FABINHO(Bra)

24 Andrea RAGGI (Ita)

38 AlmaryTOURE(Mli)

13 WALLACE (Bra)

MIDFIELDERS

(22) 23.10.93
(31)24.06.84
(19) 28.04.96
(21)14.10.94

12 Fares BAHLOULI (20)08.04.95
14 Tiemoue BAKAYOKO (21)17.08.94
29 Gabriel BOSCHIUA (Bra) ( 19) 05.03.96

18 Helder COSTA (Por) (21)12.01.94

7 Nabil DIRAR (Mor) (29) 25.02.86

27 Thomas LEMAR ( 19) 12.11.95

25 Mareos LOPES (Por) ( 19) 28.12.95
44 Jonathan MEXIQUE (20) 10.03.95

8 JoaoMOUTINHO (Por) (29) 08.09.86
20 Mario PASALIC (Cm) (20)09.02.95

10 Bernardo SILVA (Por) (21)10.08.94
37 AboudAzizTHIAM (18)15.01.97

28 Jeremy TOULALAN (32)10.09.83

23 Adama TRAORE (Mli) (20) 28.06.95
FORWARDS

11 Guido CARRILLO (Arg) (24) 25.05.91
17 Ivan CAVALEIRO (Por) (22)18.10.93
22 Stephan EL SHAARAWY (Ita)

(23) 27.10.92

19 Lacina TRAORE (IvC) (25) 20.08.90

COACH

Leonardo JARDIM (Por) (41 ) 01.08.74

GOALKEEPERS

1 Jesper HANSEN (Den)(30) 31.03.85

16 Jean-Louis LECA

(30) 21.09.85

30 Thomas VINCENSINI

(22)12.09.93

DEFENDERS

29 Gilles CIONI

(31)14.06.84

23 Alexander DJIKU

(21)09.08.94

24 Yassine JEBBOUR (Mor)

(24) 24.08.91

28 Florian MARANGE

(29)03.03.86

20 Francois MODESTO

(37)19.08.78

15 Julian PALMIERI

(28)17.12.86

17 Mathieu PEYBERNES

. (25)21.10.90

5 Sebastien SQUILLACI (35)11.08.80

MIDFIELDERS

7 Floyd AYITE (Tog)

(26)15.12.88

18 Yannick CAHUZAC

(30)18.01.85

33 Lassana COULIBALY (Mli) ( 19) 10.04.96

8 GaelDANIC

(33)19.11.81

6 SekoFOFANA

(20) 07.05.95

10 LyesHOURI

(19)19.01.96

12 Abdoulaye KEITA (Mli) (21 ) 05.01.94
22 Christopher MABOULOU

(25)19.03.90

14 MehdiMOSTEFA (Alg) (32) 30.08.83

19 Axel NGANDO

(22)13.07.93

FORWARDS

11 BRANDAO(Bra)

(35)16.06.80

2 Sadio DIALLO (Gui)

(24) 28.12.90

25 Francois KAMANO (Gui) ( 19) 01.05.96
9 Florian RASPENTINO(26) 06.06.89

COACH

Ghislain PRINTANT

MONTPELLIER

GOALKEEPERS

(54)13.05.61

16 Geoffrey JOURDREN (29) 04.02.86
30 Jonathan LIGALI (24) 28.05.91
1 Laurent PIONNIER (33) 24.05.82

DEFENDERS

15 Ramy BENSEBAINI (Alg) (20) 16.04.95

3 Daniel CONGRE (30)05.04.85
25 Mathieu DEPLAGNE (24) 01.10.91
35 Dylan GISSI (Swi) (24) 27.04.91

4 HILTON (Bra) (38)13.09.77

2 Mamadou N'DIAYE (Sen) (20) 28.05.95
21 William REMY (24) 04.04.91
24 Jerome ROUSSILLON (22) 06.01.93

10 Ryad BOUDEBOUZ (Alg) (25) 19.02.90
14 Bryan DABO (23)18.02.92

17 PaulLASNE (26)16.01.89

8 Jonas MARTIN (25) 09.04.90

6 Joris MARVEAUX (33) 15.08.82

23 Jamel SAIHI (Tun) (28) 27.01.87

20 Morgan SANSON (21 ) 18.08.94

13 EllyesSKHIRI (20)10.05.95

22 SebastienWUTHRICH(Swi)

(25) 29.05.90
FORWARDS

28 Djamel BAKAR (26) 06.04.89

26 Kevin BERIGAUD (27) 09.05.88

19 Souleymane CAMARA (Sen)

(32) 22.12.82

31 Quentin CORNEHE (21)17.01.94

32 Jean DEZA (Per) (22) 09.06.93

29 CasimirNINGA(Chd) (22)17.05.93

12 Florian SOTOCA (25) 25.10.90

9 Mustapha YATABARE (Mli)

(29) 26.01.86

COACH

Rolland COURBIS (62) 12.08.53

BORDEAUX

GOALKEEPERS

16 Cedric CARRASSO

(33) 30.12.81

1 Simon LEFEBVRE

(18) 06.05.97

30 Jerome PRIOR

(20) 08.08.95

DEFENDERS

3 Diego CONTENTO(Ger) (25) 01.05.90

2 Milan GAJIC (Ser)

(19) 28.01.96

26 Frederic GUILBERT

(20) 24.12.94

4 PABLO (Bra)

(24) 21.06.91

5 Nicolas PALLOIS

(28)19.09.87

29 Maxime POUNDJE

(23)16.08.92

6 Ludovic SANE (Sen)

(28) 22.03.87

21 Cedric YAMBERE

(28) 06.11.90

MIDFIELDERS

11 Clement CHANTOME

(28)11.09.87

24 Wahbi KHAZRI (Tun) (24) 08.02.91
19 Nicolas MAURICE-BELAY

(30)19.04.85

17 Andre POKO (Gab)

(22) 01.01.93

18 Jaroslav PLASIL (CzR) (33) 05.01.82

10 Henri SAIVET (Sen)

(24) 26.10.90

8 Gregory SERTIC

(26) 05.08.89

28 Kevin SONI (Cam)

(17)17.04.98

7 Abdou TRAORE (Mli)

(27)17.01.88

23 Valentin VADA (Arg)

(19)06.03.96

FORWARDS

27 EnzoCRIVELLI

(20) 06.02.95

14 Cheikh DIABATE (Mli) (27) 25.04.88

20 JUSSIE(Bra)

(32)19.09.83

15 Gaetan LABORDE

(21)03.05.94

9 Diego ROLAN (Uru)

(22) 24.03.93

12 Isaac KieseTHELIN(Swe)

(23) 24.06.92

13 Thomas TOURE (IvC)

(21 ) 27.12.93

COACH

Willy SAGNOL

GOALKEEPERS

(38)18.03.77

30 Maxime DUPE

(22)04.03.93

16 Alexandre OLLIERO

(19)15.02.96

1

Remy RlOU

(28) 06.08.87

DEFENDERS

5

LorikCANA (Alb)

(32) 27.07.83

26 Koffi DJIDJI

(22) 30.11.92

15

Leo DUBOIS

(21)14.09.94

36 EnockKWATENG

(18) 30.04.97

3

Ermir LENJANI (Alb) (26) 05.08.89

13

Wilfried MOIMBE

(27)18.10.88

14

Youssouf SABALY

(22) 05.03.93

4 Oswaldo VIZCARRONDO (Ven)

(31)31.05.84

17 Anthony WALONGWA (DRC)

(22)15.10.93

MIDFIELDERS

23 ADRYAN (Bra) (21 ) 08.10.94

21 Johan AUDEL (31)12.12.83

7 Alejandro BEDOYA (USA)

(28) 29.04.87

18 Lucas DEAUX (26)26.12.88
6 Remi GOMIS (Sen) (31)14.02.84
20 Jules ILOKI (DRC) (23) 14.01.92
28 Valentin RONGIER (20) 07.12.94

8 Adrien THOMASSON (21)10.12.93

19 Abdoulaye TOURE (21)03.03.94

12 Birama TOURE (Mli) (23)06.06.92
FORWARDS

10 Yacine BAMMOU (Mor)(24) 11.09.91

11 Ismael BANGOURA (Gui)

(30) 02.01.85
27 Adama NIANE (Mli) (22) 16.06.93

22 EmilianoSALA(Arg) (25)31.10.90

9 Kolbeinn SIGTHORSSON (Ice)

(25)14.03.90

COACH

Michel DER ZAKARIAN (Arm) (52) 18.02.63

GOALKEEPERS

16 Louis DESCHATEAUX (18)16.04.97

30PaulREULET (21)14.01.94

1 RemyVERCOUTRE (35)26.06.80

DEFENDERS

21 ChakerALHADHUR (Com) (23) 04.12.91

12 Dennis APPIAH (23)09.06.92

13 SyamBENYOUSSEF(Tun)

(26) 31.03.89

28 Damien DA SILVA (27) 17.05.88
15 Emmanuel IMOROU (Ben)

(27) 16.09.88

29 Florian LEJONCOUR (20)03.02.95

22 Alexandre RAINEAU (29) 21.06.86

5 Alaeddine YAHIA (Tun) (34) 26.08.81

MIDFIELDERS

18 Jordan ADEOTI (Ben) (26)12.03.89
26 Jonathan BEAULIEU (22) 11.03.93
11 Vincent BESSAT (29) 08.11.85

6 Jonathan DELAPLACE (29) 20.03.86

25 Julien FERET (33) 05.07.82

19 Jordan LEBORGNE (20)29.09.95

17 Jean-Victor MAKENGO

(17)12.06.98

8 Jordan N'KOLOLO (DRC) (22) 09.11.92

2 Nicolas SEUBE (36)11.08.79

FORWARDS

20 Herve BAZILE (Hai) (25) 18.03.90

9 AndyDELORT (23)09.10.91

14 Jeff LOUIS (Hai) (23)08.08.90

10 SaidiNTIBAZONKIZA(Brd)

(28) 01.05.87

23 RonnyRODELIN (25)18.11.89

COACH

Patrice GARANDE

(54) 27.11.60

GOALKEEPERS

30 Yoan CARDINALE

(21)27.03.94

40 Andrea GAMBETTA
1 Mouez HASSAN
16 Simon POUPLIN

(19) 13.08.96

(20) 05.03.95
(30) 28.05.85

DEFENDERS

4 PaulBAYSSE

(27)15.05.88

24 Mathieu BODMER

(32) 22.11.82

33 Olivier BOSCAGLI (17)18.11.97
35 Jonathan CORREIA DA FONSECA
(21)13.02.94
25 Romain GENEVOIS (Hai) (28) 28.10.87
5 Kevin GOMIS (26)20.01.89

20 Maxime LE MARCHAND

(26)10.11.89

3 Gautier LLORIS

(20)18.07.95

23 Ricardo PEREIRA (Por) (22) 06.10.93

MIDFIELDERS

9 HatemBENARFA

(28) 07.03.87

13 Niklas HULT (Swe)

(25)13.02.90

26 Vincent KOZIELLO

(20) 28.10.95

19 Wallyson MALLMANN (Bra)

(21)16.02.94

15 Alexandre MENDY

(21)20.03.94

22 Nampalys MENDY

(23) 23.06.92

12 Albert RAFETRANIAINA( 19) 09.09.96
21 Stephan RAHERIHARIMANANA (Mad)

(22)16.08.93

6 Jean SERI (IvC)

(24)19.07.91

8 Mahamane TRAORE (Mli) (27) 31.08.88

7 JulienVERCAUTEREN(Blg)(22)12.01.93

FORWARDS

11 Said BENRAHMA (Alg) (20) 10.08.95

27 Bryan CONSTANT

(21)27.03.94

28 Valere GERMAIN

(25)17.04.90

34 FrenckHONORAT

(19)11.08.96

10 Mickael LE BIHAN

(25)16.05.90

29 Jeremy PIED

(26) 23.02.89

14 AlassanePLEA

(22)10.03.93

34 Paulin PUEL

(18)09.05.97

COACH

Claude PUEL

(54) 02.09.61

GAZELEC AJACCIO

r

GOALKEEPERS

30 Jules GODA (Cam)

(26) 30.05.89

1 Clement MAURY

DEFENDERS

(29) 20.11.85

5 Jeremie BRECHET

(36)14.08.79

29 Alexandre COEFF

(23) 20.02.92

6 David DUCOURTIOUX (37) 11.04.78

4 Roderic FILIPPI

(26) 25.02.89

15 KaderMANGANE(Sen)

(32) 23.03.83

21 Pablo MARTINEZ

(26) 21.02.89

3 Issiaga SYLLA (Gui)

(21)01.01.94

13 Alassane TOURE

MIDFIELDERS

(26) 09.02.89

22 Issiar DIA (Sen) (28) 08.06.87

23 Damjan DJOKOVIC (Cro)

(25)11.09.89

10 Mohamed LARBI (Tun)

8 Jerome LEMOIGNE

(32)15.02.83

20 Louis POGGI

(31)18.06.84

18 AmosYOUGA

(22) 08.12.92

FORWARDS

9 Khalid BOUTAIB

(28) 24.04.87

7 Kevin MAYI

(22)14.01.93

28 Gregory PUJOL

(35) 25.01.80

24 John TSHIBUMBU (DRC)

(26) 06.01.89

19 Jacques ZOUA (Cam) (24)06.09.91

COACH

Thierry LAUREY

(51 ) 17.02.64

I PARIS ST-GERMAIN

r

GOALKEEPERS

1 Nicolas DOUCHEZ

(35) 22.04.80

30 Salvatore SIRIGU (Ita) (28)12.01.87

16 Kevin TRAPP (Ger)

(25)08.07.90

DEFENDERS

19 Serge AURIER (IvC)

(22) 24.12.92

3 Presnel KIMPEMBE

(20)13.08.95

20 Layvin KURZAWA

(23) 04.09.92

32 David LUIZ(Bre)

(28) 22.04.87

5 MARQUINHOS (Bra)

(21)14.05.94

17 MAXWELL (Bra)

(34) 27.08.81

2 Thiago SILVA (Bra)

(31)22.09.84

23 Gregory VAN DER WIEL (Hoi)

(27) 03.02.88

MIDFIELDERS

11 Angel Dl MARIA (Arg) (27) 14.02.88

7 LUCAS Moura (BrB) (23)13.08.92
14 Blaise MATUIDI (28)09.04.87

8 Thiago MOTTA (Ita) (33)28.08.82
27 Javier PASTORE (Arg)(26) 20.06.89
25 Adrien RABIOT (20) 03.04.95
4 Benjamin STAMBOULI(25) 13.08.90
6 Marco VERRATTI (Ita) (23)05.11.92

FORWARDS

29 Jean-Kevin AUGUSTIN (18) 16.06.97

9 Edinson CAVANI (Uru) (28) 14.02.87

10 ZlatanlBRAHIMOVIC(Swe)

(34) 03.10.81

22 EzequielLAVEZZI (Arg) (30) 03.05.85
35 Hervin ONGENDA (20) 24.06.95

COACH

Laurent BLANC (50) 19.11.65

96 WORLD SOCCER

SQUADS

r

I GUINGAMP

r

GOALKEEPERS

16 Theo GUIVARCH

(19)1711.95

1 Jonas LOSSL (Den)

(26) 01.02.89

30 MamadouSAMASSA(Mli)

(25)16.02.90

DEFENDERS

6 Maxime BACA

(32) 02.06.83

3 Benjamin ANGOUA (IvC) (28) 2811.86
2 Lars JACOBSEN (Den) (36) 20.09.79

29 Christophe KERBRAT (29) 02.08.86

25 Reynold LEMAITRE

(32) 28.06.83

7 Dorian LEVEQUE

(25) 2211.89

15 Jeremy SORBON

(32)05.08.83

MIDFIELDERS

17 JulienBEGUE

(22) 08.08.93

10 Nicolas BENEZET

(24) 24.02.91

31 Ludovic BLAS

(17) 3112.97

22 Julien CARDY

(34) 29.09.81

24 Marcus COCO

(19) 24.06.96

5 Moustapha DIALLO (Sen)

(29)14.05.86

20 Laurent DOS SANTOS (22) 21.09.93

26 ThibauItGIRESSE

(34) 25.05.81

27 Franck HERY

(22) 26.04.93

18 Lionel MATHIS

(34) 0410.81

19 Yannis SALIBUR

(24) 24.01.91

13 YounousseSANKHARE (26) 10.09.89

FORWARDS

23 Jimmy BRIAND

(30) 02.05.85

9 Mana DEMBELE (Mli)

(26) 2911.88

12 NiilDEPAUW(Blg)

(25) 06.01.90

11 Sloan PRIVAT

(26) 24.07.89

COACH

Jocelyn GOURVENNEC

(43) 22.03.72

LILLE

L =3

r

GOALKEEPERS

30 Jean BUTEZ

(20) 08.06.95

16 Steeve ELANA (Mar)

(35)11.07.80

1 Vincent ENYEAMA (Nga)

(33) 29.08.82

40 Mike MAIGNAN

DEFENDERS

(20) 03.07.95

25 Marko BASA (Mne)

(32) 2912.82

18 Franck BERIA

(32) 23.05.83

5 Renato CIVELLI (Arg)

(31)14.10.83

2 Sebastien CORCHIA

(25) 0111.90

3 Youssouf KONE (Mli)

(20) 05.07.95

28 Benjamin PAVARD

(19) 28.03.96

19 DJibril SIDIBE

(23) 29.07.92

23 Adama SOUMAORO

(23)18.06.92

13 Stoppila SUNZU (Zam) (26) 22.06.89

MIDFIELDERS

6 Ibrahim AMADOU

(22) 06.04.93

26 Alexis ARAUJO

(18) 0712.96

4 Florent BALMONT

(35)02.02.80

11 EricBAUTHEAC

(28) 24.08.87

7 Sofiane BOUFAL (Mor) (22) 17.09.93
10 Marvin MARTIN (27)10.06.88
24 Rio Antonio MAVUBA

(31)08.03.84
17 Souahilo MEITE (21)17.03.94
15 Lenny NANGIS (21)24.03.94

8 MounirOBBADI (Mor) (32) 04.04.83

FORWARDS

9 Yassine BENZIA (21 ) 08.09.94

29 Michael FREY (Swi) (21 ) 19.07.94
27 Baptiste GUILLAUME (Big)

(20)16.06.95
12 Sehrou GUIRASSY (19)12.03.96

22 Junior TALLO (IvC) (22) 21.12.92
14 Yaw YEBOAH (Gha) (18) 28.03.97

COACH

Herve RENARD (47) 30.09.68

. 1 ^#

GOALKEEPERS

30 Florent CHAIGNEAU (31 ) 21.03.84
40 Benjamin LECOMTE (24) 26.04.91

16 Ibrahim SY (Sen) (20)13.08.95

DEFENDERS

6 Francois BELLUGOU (28)25.04.87
25 Lamine GASSAMA (Sen)

(26) 20.10.89

14 Raphael GUERREIRO (Por)

(21)22.12.93

18 HamadouKARAMOKO (20) 31.10.95
2 Lamine KONE (IvC) (26)01.02.89
24 Wesley LAUTOA(NwC) (28) 25.08.87

4 Vincent LE GOFF (26)15.10.89

29 Pape PAYE (25) 31.05.90

5 ZargoTOURE(Sen) (25)11.11.89

MIDFIELDERS

13 Rafidine ABDULLAH (21)15.01.94
28 MaximeBARTHELME (27) 08.09.88

20 Denis BOUANGA (20) 11.11.94

8 YannJOUFFRE (31)23.07.84

15 Remi MULUMBA (DRC)(23) 02.11.92

17 Walid MESLOUB (Alg) (30) 04.09.85

7 Didier NDONG (Gab) (21)17.06.94

19 Remain PHILIPPOTEAUX

(27) 02.03.88

21 Alain TRAORE (BuF) (26) 31.12.88

FORWARDS

23 Moryke FOFANA (IvC) (23) 23.11.91

11 Marvin GAKPA (22) 01.11.93

22 Benjamin JEANNOT (23) 22.01.92

31 Valentin LAVIGNE (21)04.06.94

12 Benjamin MOUKANDJO (Cam)

(26)12.11.88

9 Majeed WARIS (Gha) (24)19.09.91

COACH

Sylvain RIPOLL (44) 15.08.71

LORIENT

1 LYON

r

GOALKEEPERS

30 Mathieu GORGELIN

(25) 05.08.90

1 Anthony LOPES (Por;

1 (25)01.10.90

16 Lucas MOCIO

(21)11.05.94

DEFENDERS

3 Henri BEDIMO (Cam) (31 ) 04.06.84

5 Milan BISEVAC (Ser)

(32) 31.08.83

13 Christophe JALLET

(32) 3110.83

4 Bakari KONE (BuF)

(27) 27.04.88

15 Jeremy MOREL

(31)02.04.84

20 RAFAEL (Bra)

(25)09.07.90

22 Lindsay ROSE

(23)08.02.92

23 Samuel UMTITI

(21)1411.93

2 MapouYANGA-MBIWA (26) 15.05.89

MIDFIELDERS

14 Sergi DARDER (Spa)

(21)2212.93

18 NabilFEKIR

(22)18.07.93

12 Jordan FERRI

(23)12.03.92

6 Gueida FOFANA

(24)16.05.91

11 RachidGHEZZAL(Alg)

(23) 09.05.92

21 Maxime GONALONS (26)10.03.89

7 Clement GRENIER

(24) 07.01.91

24 Olivier KEMEN

(19) 20.07.96

32 Zakarie LABIDI

(20) 08.02.95

17 Steed MALBRANQUE (35) 06.01.80

28 Arnold MVUEMBA

(30) 28.01.85

8 CorentinTOLISSO

(21)03.08.94

29 Lucas TOUSART

(18) 29.04.97

19 Mathieu VALBUENA

(31)28.09.84

FORWARDS

9 Claudio BEAUVUE

(27)16.04.88

27 Maxwel CORNET

(19) 27.09.96

26 Aldo KALULU

(19) 21.01.96

10 Alexandre LACAZEnE (24) 28.05.91

COACH

Hubert FOURNIER

(48) 03.09.67

1 MARSEILLE

r

GOALKEEPERS

30 Steve MANDANDA

(30) 28.03.85

16 YohannPELE

(33) 0411.82

DEFENDERS

12 Gael ANDONIAN (Arm) (20) 07.02.95

25 Paolo DECEGLIE(lta) (29)17.09.86

26 Brice DJA DJEDJE (IvC) (24) 23.12.90

2 JaviMANQUILLO (Spa) (21) 05.05.94
23 Benjamin MENDY (21 ) 17.07.94

3 Nicolas NKOULOU (Cam) (25) 27.03.90

4 Karim REKIK (Hoi) (20) 02.12.94

6 ROLANDO (Por) (30) 31.08.85

15 Stephane SPARAGNA (20)17.02.95

MIDFIELDERS

11 Remain ALESSANDRINI (26) 03.04.89
29 Andre-Frank ZamboANGUISSA

(Cam) (19)16.11.95
19 AbdelazizBARRADA(Mor)

13 RemyCABELLA
5 AbouDIABY

(26)19.06.89
(25) 08.03.90
(29)11.05.86

10 Lassana DIARRA

(30)10.03.85

18 Mauricio ISLA (Chi)

(27)12.06.88

14 Georges-Kevin NKOUDOU

(20)13.02.95

7 Lucas OCAMPOS (Arg) (21 ) 11.07.94

20 Alaixys ROMAO (Tog) (31 ) 18.01.84
17 BounaSARR (23)31.01.92

8 Lucas SILVA (Bra) (22)16.02.93

FORWARDS

22 Michy BATSHUAYI (Big) (22) 02.10.93

COACH

Michel (SPA) (52) 23.03.62

REIMS

GOALKEEPERS

16 Kossi AGASSA (Tog) (37)07.07.78
40 Cyriack GAREL ( 19) 13.07.96
30 Johnny PLACIDE (Hai)(27) 29.01.88

DEFENDERS

5 Gregory BOURILLON (31)01.07.84
28 Antoine CONTE (21 ) 29.01.94

2 Mohamed FOFANA (Mli) (30) 07.03.85
23 Aissa MANDI (Alg) (24) 22.10.91

3 Franck SIGNORINO (34)19.09.81
22 Mickael TACALFRED (34)23.04.8 1
27 Hamary TRAORE (Mli) (23)27.01.92
15 Atila TURAN (Tur) (23)10.04.92
25 Anthony WEBER (28)11.06.87

MIDFIELDERS

18 Frederic BULOT (Gab) (25) 27.09.90

6 Antoine DEVAUX (30) 21.02.85
11 DIEGO (Bra) (27) 09.03.88

4 Jaba KANKAVA (Geo) (29) 18.03.86
26 OmenukeMFULU(CDR) (23) 20.03.92
8 Prince ONIANGUE (Con) (27) 0411.88

19 AlexiPEUGET (24)18.12.90

21 Hugo RODRIGUEZ (24) 02.04.91

F ORWARDS

10 Gaetan CHARBONNIER

(26) 27.12.88
12 Nicolas DE PREVILLE (24)08.01.91
7 Odair FORTES (CVI) (28)31.03.87
29 Grejohn KYEI (20) 12.08.95
17 AlyNDOM (19)30.05.96

24 David N'GOG (26) 01.04.89
20 Theoson Jordan SIEBATCHEU

(19)06.04.96

COACH

Olivier GUEGAN (43) 20.08.72

RENNES

%

F

GOALKEEPERS

1 Benoit COSTIL (28) 03.07.87

40 Abdoulaye DIALLO (Sen)

(23) 30.03.92

30 Edvinas GERTMONAS (Lit)

(19)01.06.96

16 Olivier SORIN (34)16.04.81

DEFENDERS

22 Sylvain ARMAND (35) 01.08.80
24 Ludovic BAAL (29) 24.05.86

19 Dimitri CAVARE (20)05.02.95
29 Remain DANZE (29) 03.07.86
14 Fallou DIAGNE (Sen) (26)14.08.89

3 CheikhM'BENGUE (Sen) (27) 23.07.88

5 Pedro MENDES (Por) (25)01.10.90

4 MEXER (Moz) (27) 08.09.88

12 Steven MOREIRA (21)13.08.94

2 MehdiZEFFANE(Alg) (23)19.05.92

MIDFIELDERS

21 Benjamin ANDRE (25) 03.08.90

17 JeremieBOGA (18)03.01.97

8 Abdoulaye DOUCOURE (22) 01.01.93

6 Gelson FERNANDES (Swi)

(29) 02.09.86

9 Yoann GOURCUFF (29) 11.07.86
11 Juan QUINTERO (Col) (22)18.01.93

20 Yacouba SYLLA (Mli) (24) 29.11.90

FORWARDS

10 Kamil GROSICKI (Pol) (27) 08.06.88
27 Habib HABIBOU (CAR) (28)16.04.87

18 Pedro HENRIQUE (Bra) (25) 16.06.90

7 Paul-Georges NTEP (23)29.07.92

13 Giovanni SIO (IvC) (26)31.03.89

COACH

Philippe MONTANIER (50) 15.11.64

SAINT-ETIENNE

GOALKEEPERS

1 Anthony MAISONNIAL ( 17) 23.03.98
30 Jessy MOULIN (29)13.01.86

16 Stephane RUFFIER (29)27.09.86

DEFENDERS

32 Benoit ASSOU-EKOTTO (Cam)
(31)24.03.84

26 Moustapha BAYAL SALL (Sen)

(29) 30.11.85

20 Jonathan BRISON (31 )07.12.83

29 Francois CLERC (32) 18.04.83
25 Kevin MALCUIT (24) 31.07.91

24 Loic PERRIN (30) 07.08.85

19 Florentin POGBA (Gui) (25) 19.08.90
3 Pierre-Yves POLOMAT (21 ) 27.12.93

2 Kevin THEOPHILE-CATHERINE

(26) 28.10.89
MIDFIELDERS

6 Jeremy CLEMENT (31 ) 26.08.84

10 Renaud COHADE (31)29.09.84

8 Benjamin CORGNET (28)06.04.87
28 Ismael DIOMANDE (IvC) (23) 28.08.92

11 Valentin EYSSERIC (23) 25.03.92

21 Remain HAMOUMA (28)29.03.87

18 Fabien LEMOINE (28)16.03.87
5 Vincent PAJOT (25)19.08.90
15 Erin PINHEIRO (CVI) (18)15.07.97
FORWARDS

7 Jean-Christophe BAHEBECK

(22) 01.05.93

17 Jonathan BAMBA (19)26.03.96

27 Robert BERIC (Sin) (24)17.06.91
14 NealMAUPAY (19)14.08.96

22 Kevin MONNET-PAQUET (27) 19.08.88

9 Nolan ROUX (27) 01.03.88

COACH

Christophe GALTIER (49) 28.08.66

,

GOALKEEPERS

30AIIAHAMADA (24)19.08.91

1 Mauro GOICOECHEA (Uru)

(27) 27.03.88

16 Marc VIDAL (24)03.06.91

DEFENDERS

7 Jean-DanierAKPAAKPRO(lvC)

(23)11.10.92

3 Jean-Armel KANA-BIYIK (Cam)

(26)03.07.89
6 William MATHEUS (Bra) (25) 02.04.90
29 Francois MOUBANDJE (Swi)

(25) 21.06.90

24 Pavie NINKOV (Ser) (30) 20.04.85
15 UrosSPAJin^) (22)13.02.93

2 MaximeSPANO (21)31.10.94

26 Marcel TISSERAND(DRC) (22) 10.01.93

20 Steeve YAGO (BuF) (22) 16.12.92

MIDFIELDERS

21 Abel AGUILAR (Col) (30)06.01.85

27 Alexis BUN (19)16.09.96

23 Yann BODIGER (20) 09.02.95

8 Etienne DIDOT (32)24.07.83

4 TongoDOUMBIA (Mli) (26) 06.08.89

13 Zinedine MACHACH (19)05.01.96

17 Adrien REGAHIN (Mor) (24) 22.08.91

28 Mihai ROMAN (Rom) (30) 16.11.84

14 Pantxi SIRIEIX (35) 07.10.80

19 SOMALIA (Bra) (27)28.09.88

18 Oscar TREJO (Arg) (27)26.04.88

FORWARDS

12 Youssef BENALI (Mor) (20) 04.02.95

10 Wissam BEN YEDDER(24) 08.12.90

9 Martin BRAITHWAITE (Den)

(24) 05.06.91

11 Aleksandar PESIC (Ser) (23) 21.05.92

25 Sana ZANIOU (BuF) (20) 31.12.94

COACH

Dominique ARRIBAGE (44)11.05.71

TROYES

GOALKEEPERS

40 Paul BERNARDONI ( 18) 18.04.97

I Matthieu DREYER (26) 20.03.89

16 Franck GRANDEL(Gdp) (37) 17.03.78

30 Denis PETRIC (Ser) (27) 24.05.88

DEFENDERS

33 Carlens ARCUS (Hai) (19)28.06.96
22 Mory KONE (IvC) (21 ) 21.04.94

17 Guillaume LACOUR (35)02.08.80
6 Jonathan MARTINS PEREIRA

(29) 30.01.86
3 Chris MAVINGA (DRC) (24) 26.05.91
20 Mahamadou N'DIAYE (Mli)

(25) 21.06.90

31 AneleNGCONGCA(SAf) (28) 21.10.87

II RINCON (Bra) (28) 31.05.87
5 Matthieu SAUNIER (25) 07.02.90

32 DusanVESKOVAC (Ser) (29) 16.03.86

MIDFIELDERS

4 Thomas AYASSE

(28)17.02.87

19 Karim AZAMOUM

(25)17.01.90

18 ChaoukiBENSAADA(Tun)

(31)01.07.84

23 Fabien CAMUS (Tun) (30) 28.02.85

34 Alois CONFAIS

(19) 07.09.96

7 Yohan COURT

(25)14.01.90

8 Stephane DARBION

(31)22.03.84

24 LossemyKARABOUE (27)18.03.88

10 Benjamin NIVET

(38) 02.01.77

29 Quentin OTHON

(27) 27.03.88

25 Jessy PI

(22) 24.09.93

14 Thiago XAVIER (Bra)

(31)27.12.83

FORWARDS

12 Henri BIENVENU (Cam) (27) 05.07.88
21 Jimmy CABOT (21)18.04.94
15 Georges GOPE-FENEPEJ (NwC)

(27) 23.10.88
9 Babacar GUEYE (Sen) (20)31.12.94

26 Deniz HUMMET (Tur) ( 19) 13.09.96

27 CorentinJEAN (20)15.07.95
13 Brayan PEREA (Col) (22)25.02.93

COACH

Jean-Marc FURLAN (57) 20.11.57

TOULOUSE

WORLD SOCCER 97

(ages as of 06.1115)

GREAT

HATCHES

KEY MOMENTS

Savo Milosevic rises above
two defenders to head home a cross
from Lju binko Drulovic. 0-1

Raul works an opening on
the edge of the box and Alfonso pulls
Spain lev el. 1-1

|2|jj]Q] A shot from the edge of
the area by sub Dejan Govedarica,
following a pass from Drulovic,
restores Yugoslavia's lead. 1-2
l>'Wi7nil The scores are level again as
Pedro Munitis curls a fine effort in off
the post. 2-2

IflcirnTil Yugoslavia are reduced to
ten men as Slavisa Jokanovic receives
a second yellow card and is sent off.
^^^1 Predrag Mijatovic misses a
great chance when he blasts over the
bar from close range.

Sinisa Mihajlovic plays the
ball into the
penalty area
and Slobodan
Komljenovic
stabs the ball
past keeper
Santiago
Canizare s. 2-3

Abelardo i
is fouled in the On target...Slobodan

area and Gaizka Komljenovic (left)
Mendieta scores from the penalty
spot. 3-3

H<gg!i7rTil A long ball into the
Yugoslavia area in the last minute of
added time is volleyed in by Alfonso
to win the game. 4-3

T here was everything to play for
as Group C entered its final
round of games, with all four
sides still able to progress to the
Euro quarter-finals. And as Gavin Hamilton
wrote in World Soccer's My 2000 edition:
"The European Championships have
produced some memorable games.

But nothing quite like this.

"Spain, a goal down in injury time
looked to be heading out. Another
tournament, another disappointing
performance from a team who had
promised much but delivered little.

"Then, just before the lights were turned
out on Spain's tournament, they came
roaring back to life, scoring twice in a
matter of minutes to pull off one of the
most remarkable comebacks seen in
international football.

"Alfonso's winning goal took Spain
into the quarter-finals at the expense of
Norway, whose goalless draw with Slovenia
sent them out as Yugoslavia, who thought
they had thrown it all away, were handed
a lifeline into the last eight!'

At 2-2, Yugoslavia were reduced to 10
men and "the tide appeared to be turning
in Spain's favour" according to Hamilton.
And when Yugoslavia took the lead for a
third time it was pointed out that "at times
like this in the past, Spanish sides had

Winner... Alfonso volleys home

Seven goals are shared at the Jan Breydel Stadion
as Spain edge out Yugoslavia in a thrilling encounter

Level...Alfonso scores Spam’s first goal

Battle...Paco (left) and
Predrag Mijatovic

cracked under the pressure".

Hamilton went on to say: "To the credit
of coach Camacho, his team mounted a
spirited challenge, besieging the Yugoslav
goal for the remainder of the match, but
it looked like Yugoslavia would hold out"
However, the pressure finally told as
Pedro Munitis won a penalty, which was
converted by Gaizka Mendieta, and
Alfonso scored the winner in the sixth
minute of injury time.

Both sides went out in the quarter-
finals, with France eventually beating
Italy in the Final. WS

SPAIH

Coach: Jose Antonio Camacho

«

SergI

(Etxeberria 23)

65) Helguera
Guardlola

Mendieta

YUGOSLAVIA
Coach: Vujadin Boskov

Stolkovlc
Savefilc 69]

Jokanovic

Kralj

Jugovic

(Govedarica 46)

Salgado
(Munitis 46)

# (J Stantons) H
Drulovic

Referee: Velsslere (Fra)

JUNE 21, 2000, BRUGES: EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Spain 4 Yugoslavia 3

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